Veteran filmsales agent Michael Kananack has been brought in as manager of membershipdevelopment at AFMA to spearhead a recruitment drive for the LA-based tradeassociation, which currently represents 160 independent film and televisionproducers and distributors worldwide. He will report directly to director ofmember services Natasha Berechko.

Kananack's arrival comes at an important time forAFMA, which numbers Miramax International, New Line International and IS FilmDistribution among its members and is seeking to expand membership to non-UScompanies. Prior to joining AFMA he served as vice president of internationalsales and acquisitions at Los Angeles-based film finance and licensing companyAKA Movies and worked in sales for Fries Film Group and Keystone Pictures,where he marketed and pre-sold pictures to distributors throughout Europe andLatin America.

'It is aprivilege to join the organisation representing the independent film andtelevision industry,' Kananack said in a statement. 'I aim toutilise my industry experience to seek out new and qualified members in orderto strengthen and expand AFMA's membership and services.'