For Immediate Release
INDEPENDENT FILM & TELEVISION ALLIANCE (IFTA)
EXECUTIVES SIGN NEW MULTI-YEAR DEALS
Jean Prewitt to Continue as President and Chief Executive Officer
Jonathan Wolf as Executive Vice President, IFTA, Managing Director, AFM
LOS ANGELES, CA – August 8, 2006 – The Independent Film and Television Alliance’s (IFTA) Board of Directors have unanimously agreed to extend the contracts of the Association’s top executives, it was announced by Michael Ryan, Chairman, IFTA and Director of IAC Film. Jean M. Prewitt will continue as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Los Angeles-based global trade organization while Jonathan Wolf will continue as Executive Vice President, IFTA and Managing Director, American Film Market (AFM). Both executives have signed new three-year contracts, which will run through 2009.
Commented Mr. Ryan, “Jean and Jonathan have made substantial contributions to our organization, which have resulted in continued growth and a host of year round services that have delivered value to our membership and the independent industry at large. I share the board’s enthusiasm about the future of our alliance under their leadership.”
Since Ms. Prewitt’s appointment in April 2000, IFTA has become the leading influential voice on a number of important initiatives and issues impacting the current state and future of the independent film and television industries. With wide-ranging expertise in motion picture distribution, new technologies and public policy, she spearheads IFTA’s global focus and activities. She is also serving as elected chairman of FilmLA.
In his current position since 1998, Mr. Wolf has guided the significant growth and repositioning of the AFM. The 2005 AFM marked the largest in every significant measurement in the event’s 27-year history, and the upcoming market is already tracking well ahead of that.
Committed to keeping its membership and the entertainment community educated and apprised of rapidly evolving issues relating to new technology and emerging delivery platforms, Ms. Prewitt has ensured the regular publication to members of licensing and technology updates in advance of major film markets. The most recent of these – the “IFTA Wireless Guide,” a comprehensive manual offering important guidance on business, financial, legal and technological aspects of wireless distribution to mobile handheld devices and on the Internet – was made available in May 2006.
Before joining IFTA, Ms. Prewitt was a principal from 1994 to 1999 at Podesta Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying and public relations firm representing some of the world’s most prestigious entertainment and high technology companies. Prior to Podesta, she served as a senior government official with the U.S. Department of Commerce. In this role, Ms. Prewitt represented the White House and Executive Branch on international communications and information policy matters.
Ms. Prewitt also worked for eight years as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of United International Pictures (UIP), the then foreign distribution arm of Paramount, Universal and MGM studios, implementing the initial creation of the global distribution network and supervising legal and government affairs on a worldwide basis.
Ms. Prewitt began her legal career at the New York firm of Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine where she specialized in federal tax, antitrust and copyright litigation. She is a graduate of Harvard University and Georgetown University Law Center.
Mr. Wolf joined IFTA in August 1993 as Senior Vice President of business development. His primary responsibilities were identifying new revenue programs for IFTA member distribution companies. Mr. Wolf established IFTA Collections, which now administers the international levy rights of more than 20,000 titles and has distributed over $45 million to participating members.
Before joining IFTA, Mr. Wolf spent two years as President and Chief Operating Officer of Studio Three Film Corporation, a U.S. theatrical marketing and distribution company. From 1986 to 1990, he served as Chief Financial Officer of New World International where he oversaw all financial aspects of the company’s international operations.
Prior to this, Mr. Wolf held finance positions with CBS Inc. for six years, culminating as Director, Finance with CBS Broadcast International in New York. Wolf began his career in 1978 with the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California Business School.
About the Independent Film & Television Alliance
The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents and provides significant entertainment industry services to more than 160 member companies from 22 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and financial institutions engaged in film finance. Forty percent of the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s membership and thirty percent of the association’s board of directors are from outside the U.S. Collectively, the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s members produce more than 400 independent films and countless hours of television programming each year and generate more than $4 billion in distribution revenues annually. The organization’s premiere event, the American Film Market, will take place November 1 - 8, 2006 in Santa Monica.
As the voice and advocate for the independent film and television industry worldwide, the Alliance speaks out on matters of critical importance and where appropriate, actively lobbies governments around the world in regard to measures directly affecting the independent industry.
###
Media Contacts:
LOS ANGELES LONDON
Jennifer Garnick Debbie Lawrence
Paul Nichols The Lippin Company
The Lippin Group 44-207-745-7189