IFTA chairman Paul Bales

Source: IFTA

IFTA chairperson Paul Bales

Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) has elected The Asylum partner and COO Paul Bales as its new chairperson on the eve of the AFM in November.

Bales has served several terms on the IFTA board since 2015 and succeeds outgoing chair Clay Epstein of Film Mode Entertainment, who served two consecutive two-year terms.

Bales joins IFTA’s 15-member board along with seven IFTA member executives: Scott Bedno, managing director, sales & acquisitions at TPC; Shaked Berenson, CEO of Entertainment Squad; Scott Jones, president and CEO of Artist View Entertainment; Chloé Marquet, head of international sales at Studiocanal; Delphine Perrier, COO at Highland Film Group; Lise Romanoff, managing director and CEO at Vision Films; and Michael Ryan, director at Gleneagles Films. This marks the first term on the board for Jones and Perrier.

Directors currently serving the second year of their two-year board term are Brian Beckmann, CFO at Arclight Films; Caroline Couret-Delegue, managing director at Film Seekers Limited; Michael Dwyer, EVP worldwide sales & distribution at Resurgence Media Group; Michael Favelle, CEO at Odin’s Eye Entertainment; Diane Ferrandez, SVP, worldwide sales & distribution at AGC Studios; George Hamilton, chief commercial officer at Protagonist Pictures; and Alice Laffille, VP of international sales at FilmNation Entertainment.

“I’m proud to serve as chairperson and to continue IFTA’s vital work on behalf of the Independents,” Bales said. “These are challenging times for the industry, and I’m especially pleased to serve alongside such an experienced and thoughtful group of directors, each possessing great instincts, knowledge, and the ability to persevere. Our members are the bedrock of a creative and innovative industry and IFTA is committed to supporting their efforts to get independent films made and to reach audiences around the world.”

“Paul’s deep understanding of our business and unwavering commitment to IFTA will make him an outstanding chairperson,” said Jean Prewitt, IFTA president & CEO. “His leadership, together with our newly appointed board, will be invaluable as we navigate both the ongoing challenges and new opportunities ahead. Their resilience continues to define what it means to be independent.”

Since 2006 Bales has been COO and partner and partner at Burbank-based production and distribution company The Asylum, whose credits include the Sharknado franchise. Prior to The Asylum, Bales served as national director of SAGIndie, the Screen Actors Guild outreach programme for independent producers.

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