AFMA says its new board of directors is the most internationalyet, with eight of its members from companies headquartered outside the US.

Yesterday, at the organisation's annual membershipmeeting, five executives were elected to the board for the first time.

They are: Wouter Barendrecht from Fortissimo Sales(Netherlands/Hong Kong), TF1's Patrick Binet (France), Nicolas Chartier ofArclight Films (US/Australia), Antonia Nava of Filmax International (Spain) andalternate Ruth Harley from the New Zealand Film Commission.

In addition, London-based Michael Ryan of IAC Films &Television (pictured) was confirmed as chairman of the board after it was announced inAugust that he would become the first person outside the US to hold the post.He ran unopposed.

Ryan said in a statement that his selection was "very much in theinternational spirit of our association." He said he intended to develop AFMA'srange of member services and increase its worldwide political presence.

In addition to the new recruits, there are currently three othernon-US based executives involved in AFMA's affairs: Capitol Films' NicoleMackey, who serves as one of the vice-chairs on the executive committee; andPathe International's Alison Thompson and Alliance Atlantis' Charlotte Mickie, bothof whom are on the board.

Those now serving on the AFMA Executive Committee are:
Michael Ryan, Chairman -IAC Film & Television
Steve Bickel, ViceChairman, Secretary - Aura Entertainment
* Howard Kaplan, ViceChairman, Finance - Morgan Creek International LLC
Nicole Mackey, ViceChairman / Non-California - Capitol Films Limited
Bobby Meyers, GeneralVice Chairman - Meyers Film Entertainment, Inc.
* Barbara Mudge,Chairman, AFEA - Worldwide Film Entertainment LLC
* Rick Sands, GeneralVice Chairman - Miramax
(* Completed first year of two-year term & were not up for election)

Those now serving on the AFMA Board of Directors are:
Art Wouter Barendrecht, FortissimoFilms Sales
Patrick Binet, TF 1International
Ehud Bleiberg, DreamEntertainment
Nicolas Chartier, ArclightFilms Pty. Ltd.
Kirk D'Amico, MyriadPictures
Robert Hayward, SummitEntertainment
Paul Hertzberg, CinetelFilms, Inc.
Lewis Horwitz, TheLewis Horwitz Organization
Lloyd Kaufman, TromaEntertainment, Inc.
David Linde, Focus Features
Mark Lindsay, MiramaxInternational
Robert Little, TheLittle Film Company
Nicolas Meyer, LionsGate Films International
Charlotte Mickie, AllianceAtlantis Communications Corporation
Kathy Morgan, KathyMorgan International
Antonia Nava, FilmaxInternational
Andrew Stevens, TrademarkEntertainment, Inc.
Alison Thompson, PatheInternational
Michael Weiser, ModernEntertainment
Lisa Wilson, SplendidPictures

Newly elected alternates are:
Ruth Harley, NewZealand Film Commission
Jere Hausfater, Independent
William Shields, G.E.L.Distribution