PROMINENT INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE AND PRODUCER BILL MECHANIC TO DELIVER
KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT 11TH ANNUAL IFTA PRODUCTION CONFERENCE SEPT. 29
New Distribution Options and Reinvention on Agenda
Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 14, 2009 – Prominent industry executive and producer Bill Mechanic
will deliver the keynote address at the 11th Annual Independent Film & Television Alliance’s
(IFTA) Production Conference, which takes place from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29,
IFTA President-CEO Jean Prewitt announced today.
Mechanic will be joined by other industry leaders at Century City’s InterContinental Hotel to
address the best ways to overcome difficult production, distribution and marketing issues
confronting independents today. The conference is programmed each year under the
leadership of Pierre David, chairman–CEO of Imagination Worldwide and chairman of IFTA’s
Producers Committee.
As this year’s keynoter, Mechanic, founder, chairman and CEO of Pandemonium, LLC, and
formerly chairman-CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment, has extensive expertise across all
aspects of the business. His independent company has produced Coraline, The New World and
Dark Water. Earlier, in leading Fox’s film wing from 1994-2000, he oversaw production of
numerous hits, including Titanic, Braveheart, X-Men, Independence Day, Ice Age, Moulin
Rouge and Boys Don’t Cry.
Mechanic also led all operations of the studio, including worldwide feature film production;
marketing and distribution, as well as all worldwide operations for Fox Video; Fox Interactive;
Licensing and Merchandising; and Fox Music. Earlier, Mechanic was president of international
distribution and worldwide video at Walt Disney Studios. He serves on the Board of Governors
for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Board of Counselors for the
prestigious USC Film School, and the Board of American Friends of the National Film Theatre of
England.
In addition to the keynote address, the conference will be comprised of two panels: “What
Comes Next? New Distribution Options for the Future” and “Invention and Imagination: Ways to
make it Happen in Hollywood Today.” Tickets are available online at www.iftaonline.org/productionconference for $60 per person for IFTA members and $90 for nonmembers.
“It is imperative for independents to embrace inventive and imaginative thinking in a complex,
challenging and evolving marketplace,” Prewitt says. “Pierre and his committee have assembled
a highly qualified, talented group of participants to share their blueprints for succeeding both
today and well into the future.”
Panelists for “What Comes Next? New Distribution Options for the Future” include Mitchell
Berman, Chief Executive Officer, ZillionTV; Steve Bickel, President, International, The Film
Department; Marc DeBevoise, Sr. Vice President, Digital Media, Business Development &
Strategy, Starz Media; Nolan Gallagher, Founder and CEO, Gravitas Ventures; Elizabeth
-more-
IFTA Production Conference/2
Guider, Editor, The Hollywood Reporter; Curt Marvis, President of Digital Media, Lionsgate; and
Gustavo Montaudon, President, Alebrije Entertainment. Pierre David, chairman and CEO of
Imagination Worldwide, LLC, and chairman of the IFTA Producers Committee, will serve as
moderator.
“Invention and Imagination: Ways to Make it Happen in Hollywood Today” will feature panelists
Mark Burg, Co-Founder, Evolution Entertainment and Producer of the SAW franchise; Paul
Colichman, Chairman & Partner, Regent Entertainment and Founder & CEO, here!; Stan
Foster, Writer/Director/Producer, Stan Foster Pictures; Gary Randall, Executive Producer of
Saving Grace and owner of Grand Productions; and Eric Schotz, President & CEO, LMNO
Productions. Paul Hertzberg, president of CineTel Films, Inc. and IFTA Vice
Chairman/Secretary, will moderate.
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 180 member companies from 22 countries, consisting of independent production and
distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and
financial institutions engaged in content finance.
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, held in conjunction with AFI Fest, takes place every year in November 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.
For more information on IFTA and the American Film Market, please visit www.ifta-online.org.
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CONTACT:
Jim Benson / Paul Nichols
The Lippin Group/LA
323.965.1990
jbenson@lippingroup.com
pnichols@lippingroup.com