LOS ANGELES – January 17, 2001 – Further strengthening its team just in time for the Sundance Film Festival, IFC Films has hired three new staff members:
Robert Schwartz, Vice President of Marketing & Distribution; Greg Forston, Vice President, Sales and Sarah Lash, Director, Acquisitions, it was announced today by
Bob Berney, Senior Vice President of Marketing & Distribution for IFC Films.
“Rob, Sarah and Greg each bring with them distinct and invaluable skills that will help further IFC’s aggressive acquisition and distribution plan,” said Berney. “We plan to hit the ground running at Sundance where we will be presenting Together in World Cinema as well as acquiring.”
A 13 -year film industry veteran, Schwartz joins IFC having most recently served as Director of Marketing and Finance for Polygram Filmed Entertainment and USA Films. During his three years there he worked on such prestigious films as Spike Jonze’s
Being John Malkovich, Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy, and Neil LaBute’s Nurse Betty. Prior to Polygram/USA Films, Schwartz served as Vice President of Marketing and Distribution for Banner Entertainment and Executive Director of Theatrical Finance and Administration at Orion Pictures/Metromedia Entertainment Group.
Greg Forston joins IFC Films from Palm Pictures/Manga Entertainment were he oversaw and ran the theatrical distribution and marketing department for more than six
years. During his time at the company he oversaw such films as recent Independent Spirit Award-nominee Dark Days; Jonathan Demme’s, Academy Award-nominated Mandela; the cult hit Ghost in the Shell; Grays End, which was presented by Olive Stone; and the quirky, action film Six String Samurai.
Sarah Lash joins IFC Films from Lions Gate Films where she served as Director of Acquisitions. During her stint at the company she was an instrumental member of the
acquisitions team and participated in the acquisition of such films as Jesus’ Son, starring Billy Crudup, the Golden Globe nominated Weight of Water and The Widow of St. Pierre. Lash joined Lions Gate in 1997 (which at the time was name Cinepix Film Properties).
IFC Films is a new theatrical film distribution company that is currently releasing Spring Forward, starring Ned Beatty and Liev Schreiber. The company’s upcoming slate of films includes: the unconventional and award winning documentary Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale, set for release in March 2001; the fourth DOGME film, The King Is Alive, scheduled for release in April; Jim McKay’s Our Song, set for release in May; and acclaimed Swedish director Lukas Moodysson’s new comedy, Together, scheduled for release in June.
IFC Films is a division of The Independent Film Channel’s IFC Entertainment Division, a division of Bravo Networks. IFC Entertainment also consists of IFC Productions, a feature film production company, Next Wave Films, a finishing fund company and IFC Originals, which produces original programming for the network.
Contact:
Melissa Hufjay
Rogers & Cowan
(310) 201-8894
mhufjay@shandwick.com
Vicky Eguia
Rogers & Cowan
(310) 201-8889
veguia@shandwick.com
Bill Brennan
IFC Entertainment
(516) 803-4528
bfbrennan@rainbow-media.com