New Distribution Options and Reinvention on Agenda

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.ifta-online.org/productionconference for $60 per person for IFTA members and $90 for non-members.

"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 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 http://www.ifta-online.org/.