Kaufman Elected Chairman of $4 Bil IFTA Prior to AFM/AFI Fest
Lloyd Kaufman was elected to a two-year term as chairman of the IFTA
By Juontel White
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 9/21/07 — The independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA) elected campy horror producer and film distribution vet Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Entertainment as its Chairman yesterday.
IFTA runs the American Film Market, the fall confab which is largest in the US and second only to Cannes worldwide. It runs concurrently with AFI Fest, making the pair even more competitive with Cannes, which is also a market plus a film festival.
“I am honored to have been elected to Chairman of IFTA,” said Kaufman. “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.”
Kaufman previously served as General Vice Chairman for IFTA, chairing and creating the New Technologies Opportunities Committee.
Kaufman created Troma Entertainment, an independent movie company, with his college buddy Michael Herz. The two met at Yale and their company has been responsible for movies such as “Waitress,” “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” and “The Toxic Avenger”, which was followed with three sequels and even became a TV cartoon as well as comic book series published by Marvel.
“We shape future trends and inspire tomorrow’s creative talent,” Kaufman said. “And IFTA will continue being at the forefront of this movement [because] “independent film has the most creative, inspired and resourceful people working in the business.”
IFTA’s Executive Board totals 20 members including members Brad Kembel (Summit Entertainment), Albert Lee (Emperor Motion Pictures) and Andrew Stevens (Focal Point Releasing), all of whom have been re-elected to another two-year term.
Jean Prewitt, president and chief executive officer of IFTA said, “Lloyd Kaufman is a dynamic leader whose energy, creativity and global relationships will help further lead IFTA in today’s increasingly challenging environment.”
Prewitt continued by thanking past Chairman Michael Ryan. “He’s leaving IFTA well positioned for the future growth that surely will continue under Lloyd’s leadership,” she said.
IFTA, based in Los Angeles, is a global trade association whose members produce more than $4 billion dollars in yearly revenues from movies and television programming. The organizations biggest event is the American Film Market held in Santa Monica alongside the AFI fest every November .