Los Angeles, CA, July 13,
2004 – Effective today, AFMA is now the Independent Film & Television
Alliance, it was announced by Michael Ryan, Chairman and Jean Prewitt,
President and CEO. In addition, the
organization unveiled the newly designed logo reflecting the name change.
The change was initiated
and approved through a vote of the association’s Board of Directors in response to the need for a name
that more clearly identifies the members of their organization and what they do in the worldwide
marketplace. The Independent Film and
Television Alliance represents the world’s producers and distributors
of independent motion pictures and television programs.
“This
is a significant year for us and it is important that our members are part of
an organization with a name that reflects the global nature of our business
today.” commented
Michael Ryan. “The acronym AFMA did not
truly represent the mandate of our organization and its involvement in film and
television. We believe the new name is more appropriate for our international
membership and that it will have lasting qualities.”
“Our organization’s
activities are diverse, including lobbying, arbitration, royalty collections,
licensing support and market research, as well as producing the American Film
Market – the name of which will remain unchanged,” added Prewitt. “Our new name brings greater clarity to our
role as the voice and advocate for the independent. It also distinguishes us at a time when the
role of the independent is growing in importance throughout the world.”
The organization’s annual
premiere event, the American Film Market (AFM), will take place in Santa Monica
3 -10 November 2004, coinciding with the AFI Los Angeles International Film
Festival (AFI FEST), with whom they have entered into a strategic new
relationship. The largest motion picture
tradeshow in the world, the upcoming market signifies the AFM’s 25th anniversary.
Effective August 2, 2004,
the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s website address will be www.ifta-online.org.
About the Independent Film & Television Alliance
The Independent Film &
Television Alliance (formerly AFMA) 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 150 member companies from 15 countries, consisting of independent production and
distribution
companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and
financial institutions engaged in film finance. Forty percent
of
the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s membership
and thirty percent of the association’s board of directors are from outside the
U.S. 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.
