The Sundance Film Festival is not only a place to screen new films, make distribution deals and party like it's 1999. It is also a particularly strong environment for announcing new intiatives and alliances that will expand the reach of film and new media in the months to come. Such an announcement was made at the start of the Festival by ScheinMedia, a media marketing firm based in New York.

ScheinMedia has announced that it has acquired an operating interest in FilmFestivalToday.com, a website covering the business of film and entertainment. FilmFestivalToday.com (www.filmfestivaltoday.com) is website and daily news service that features up-to-the-minute news, including deals, financing, legal, and festival updates.  Founded in 2001 by Jeremy Taylor, the website's focus has been on the film and entertainment industries, with a special emphasis on new trends and media platforms. As part of the new joint venture, FilmFestivalToday.com will produce high-level conferences and events focused on the business of film through its REELShare series.

"The acquisition of FilmFestivalToday.com is a very exciting proposition," Jonathan A. Schein, CEO and Publisher stated. "Our brand of management has proven success through innovation, and we'll be offering this to the film community on a daily basis as well as producing conferences where industry leaders can share their insights to those involved in the film business", he added. Currently at Sundance, he is introducing the new venture to the assembled filmmaking and business community along with Jeremy Taylor, Founder and Editor of FilmFestivalToday.com. "Bringing in the ScheinMedia team is very exciting. They have a 50-year track record of success in publishing, and will take us to an entirely new level.", Taylor offered. 
 

ScheinMedia is a diversified media company founded in 2006 by Jonathan A. Schein, whose holdings ScheinMediaEvents, which produces exclusive, high-level professional events; FlierWire.com, a national press release wire service; GreenRealEstateDaily.com, a national daily news service devoted to green real estate and business issues; NYinc.com, a website and conference medium for the New York City commercial real estate, law, finance, and economic development community; New Jersey & Company and NJand.com, a magazine and website focusing on New Jersey business and real estate; and NewYorkHouseMagazine.com, a website with an emphasis on real estate, green and sustainable design and architecture.

"This acquisition brings a whole new dimension to our business", Schein added. "It opens up a multilevel opportunity to provide the film community with a powerful information portal." In an industry that is always open to outside expertise and input, this new venture portends a very interesting marriage that will have interesting implications for the film industry as it continues to redefine itself in the years to come.

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Circuit Editor