Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Entertainment, Inc. has been elected Chairman of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) during the organization’s annual members meeting today, it was announced by Jean Prewitt, president and chief executive officer of IFTA. Kaufman begins his two-year term, effective today.
IFTA membership also elected new Executive Committee members to two-year terms: Michael Ryan (Handmade Films International and former IFTA Chairman) to Vice Chairman and Paul Hertzberg (CineTel Films, Inc.) to Vice Chairman/Secretary. Executive Committee members who will remain in their current roles include Ehud Bleiberg (Bleiberg Entertainment) as Chairman of the Export Alliance, Mark Damon (Foresight Unlimited) as General Vice Chairman and Lewis Horwitz (Horwitz Entertainment Financial Services, Inc.) as Vice Chairman/Finance. The vacancy of Vice Chairman/Non-Californian, formerly held by Kaufman, will be determined by a special election in the coming weeks.
The IFTA Board of Directors consists of 20 members serving two-year terms. Newly elected members include Elisabeth Costa de Beauregard (Lakeshore Entertainment Group), Stephanie Denton (Lionsgate), Nicole Mackey (Fortissimo Film Sales), Almira Malyshev (Screen Media Ventures), Charlotte Mickie (Independent), Barbara Mudge (Worldwide Film Entertainment) and Nestor Nieves (New Line Cinema Corporation).
Current Board members who’ve been re-elected to two-year terms include Brad Kembel (Summit Entertainment), Albert Lee (Emperor Motion Pictures) and Andrew Stevens (Focal Point Releasing).
They join existing Board members Glen Basner (The Weinstein Company), Roger Corman (New Horizons Picture Corp.), Pierre David (Imagination Worldwide, LLC), Peter Elson (Global Cinema Group LLC), Antony Ginnane (IFM World Releasing, Inc.), Richard Guardian (Mainline Releasing), Tony Kandah (Hollywood Wizard), Avi Lerner (Nu Image, Inc.), Mark Lindsay (Kimmel International) and Alison Thompson (Focus Features).
Dan March (Echo Bridge Entertainment), Steven Paul (Crystal Sky Worldwide Sales) and David Shoshan (Imageworks Entertainment International, Inc.) will serve as Alternates to the IFTA Board.
Regarding the announcement, Prewitt said, “Lloyd Kaufman has a wealth of experience in our industry and is the epitome of an independent. He is a dynamic leader whose energy, creativity and global relationships will help further lead IFTA in today’s increasingly challenging environment.”
She added, “I want to thank Michael Ryan for his many contributions to IFTA and his important role as our Chairman over the past four years. He’s leaving IFTA well positioned for the future growth that surely will continue under Lloyd’s leadership.”
Kaufman stated, “I am honored to have been elected to Chairman of IFTA. The independent community today faces rampant media consolidation and challenges to copyrights in the digital universe, and I will work closely with the IFTA Board of Directors, member companies and IFTA’s executives to give our fellow independents more control and opportunities in both the U.S. and abroad. New technology will continue to be our new frontier.”
“Independent film has the most creative, inspired and resourceful people working in the business. We shape future trends and inspire tomorrow’s creative talent, and IFTA will continue being at the forefront of this movement.”
