IAC Filmdirector Michael Ryan has been re-elected as chairman of the Independent Film& Television Alliance (IFTA).

Ryan, who is thefirst IFTA chairman from outside the US, ran unopposed and now commences hissecond consecutive two-year term.

IFTA's sevenperson executive committee, headed by Ryan, includes newly-elected vicechairman John Kochman of StudioCanal, and vice chairman, secretary, PaulHertzberg from Cinetel Films.

Continuing inthe second year of their two-year terms are Worldwide Film Entertainment'sBarbara Mudge as chairman of IFTA Export Alliance, Troma Entertainment's LloydKaufman vice chairman, Lew Horwitz of Horwitz Entertainment Financial Servicesas vice chairman of finance, and Foresight Unlimited's Mark Damon as vicechairman.

The 20-memberboard of directors includes Glen Basner from The Weinstein Company, AlisonThompson from Focus Features, Peter Elson from Global Cinema Group, KimberlyFerguson from Gaylord Films/Pandora, Tony Ginnane from IFM World Releasing, andKevin Williams from Kevin Williams Associates.

Steve Bickelfrom Aura Entertainment was one of several directors re-elected to serveanother year, alongside Ehud Bleiberg from Bleiberg Entertainment, NicolasChartier from Voltage Pictures, Roger Corman from Concorde-New Horizons Corp,Pierre David from Imagination Worldwide, and Peter Graham from120 dB Films.

The other re-electeddirectors are Robert Hayward from Summit Entertainment, Avi Lerner from NuImage, Mark Lindsay from Kimmel International, Nicole Mackey from FortissimoFilms UK, Nick Meyer from Lions Gate Films International, Bobby Meyers fromMeyers Film Entertainment, Charlotte Mickie from Celluloid Dreams, and MichaelWeiser from Pinnacle Entertainment.

Bob Mott of NewLine Cinema and Andrew Stevens of Focal Point Releasing will serve asalternates.

"MichaelRyan's leadership as IFTA chairman has had a significant impact on ourassociation," IFTA president and chief executive officer Jean Prewittsaid.

"Theexecutive committee and board of directors have a global perspective andexperience in the independent film business that is the perfect match forIFTA's ongoing support of our worldwide membership base during this excitingperiod in our industry's history."

"As theworld becomes smaller, IFTA's voice becomes more and more important for theworldwide independent industry," Ryan added.

"I look forward to working withIFTA's new board and executives to pursue an agenda that expands theopportunities for the independent film and television industry."