NEW YORK, NY (February 10, 2016) — Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films announced today that veteran company executive Lisa Schwartz has been promoted to the role of Co-President.
Notes Sehring: “Lisa’s vast experience and deep industry relationships have made her an extraordinary leader here over the past decade. The time has come to fully acknowledge that and make her my full partner in running this company moving forward. In an ever-changing landscape, with countless new revenue streams and a myriad of new emerging platforms, Lisa’s expertise and knowledge allows us to always be one step ahead in positioning us as a continued leader in the independent film space.”
Adds Schwartz: “Working with Jonathan over the past 10 years has been the highlight of my career. He has been a welcome mentor who possesses a creative vision unsurpassed in our industry. I am looking forward to continuing to work together with Jonathan to identify new opportunities that will insure the long term success of IFC Films and Sundance Selects both creatively and financially.”
Josh Sapan, CEO of AMC Networks, the parent company of IFC Films and Sundance Selects comments: “Under the leadership of Jonathan Sehring, IFC Films/Sundance Selects has been a pioneer in the theatrical, VOD and Multi-Platform Business. Lisa Schwartz’ breadth of experience and relationships in the distribution community, along with her keen business acumen are a great complement to Jonathan’s long established, well earned leadership position in the independent film community.”
Schwartz most recently served as Executive Vice President of Distribution, Operations and Business development for Sundance Selects and IFC Films. In this role, she was the senior distribution strategist for the division and was responsible for creating, identifying and securing revenue-generating opportunities. She maintained oversight of all domestic and foreign distribution for IFC Films and Sundance Selects’ operations across all platforms, including theatrical, premium VOD, pay TV, digital, portable devices, home video and all emerging new platforms. Schwartz created a new infrastructure within the company to fully develop and maximize the business model for the division’s day and date distribution initiatives. The day and date distribution model was an industry first — distributing independent films to a national audience by releasing them simultaneously in theaters as well as on cable’s On Demand platform and through Pay-Per-View, and was met with great success due to the strong demand for multiplatform content. Schwartz was also part of the core team that helped to launch IFC Midnight, a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Films, and a leading U.S. distributor of genre entertainment; Sundance Selects, a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films that focuses on American independents, documentaries and world cinema; and SundanceNow, an online destination under the AMC Networks banner where viewers can rent or buy the best in contemporary and classic independent films from all over world.
Upcoming IFC Films and Sundance Selects releases include Laura Gabbert’s CITY OF GOLD; Josh Kriegman and Elyse Sternberg’s WEINER; Matthew Brown’s THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY starring Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel; and Robert Budreau’s BORN TO BE BLUE starring Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo. Recent releases include Andrew Haigh’s Oscar-nominated 45 YEARS, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay; Christian Petzold’s critically acclaimed PHOENIX; and Richard Linklater’s Oscar-winning film BOYHOOD, starring Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette.
Sundance Selects, IFC Films and IFC Midnight are sister labels owned and operated by AMC Networks, Inc.
About IFC Films
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of quality talent-driven independent film. Upcoming releases include Robert Budreau’s BORN TO BE BLUE starring Ethan Hawke and Carmen Ejogo, and Matthew Brown’s THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY starring Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel. Recent releases include Leslye Headland’s SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, starring Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie; and Oren Moverman’s TIME OUT OF MIND, starring Richard Gere and Ben Vereen. Some of the company’s notable releases over the years have included Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD starring Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Lorelei Linklater, which was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture; Michael Winterbottom’s THE TRIP TO ITALY starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon; Joel Zwick’s MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING; Michael Moore’s FAHRENHEIT 9/11; Lena Dunham’s TINY FURNITURE; Noah Baumbach’s FRANCES HA; and Alfonso Cuaron’s Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN. IFC Films is a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About SUNDANCE SELECTS
Established in 2009 and based in New York City, Sundance Selects is a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films focusing on American independents, documentaries and world cinema. Upcoming releases include Laura Gabbert’s CITY OF GOLD; Josh Kriegman and Elyse Sternberg’s WEINER and Jerzy Skolimowski’s 11 MINUTES. Recent releases include Andrew Haigh’s Oscar-nominated 45 YEARS, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay; Olivier Assayas’ CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA, starring Juliette Binoche and Kirsten Stewart; Christian Petzold’s PHOENIX; and Corneliu Porumboiu’s THE TREASURE. Previous releases include the Dardenne Brothers’ Oscar-nominated TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT; David France’s Oscar-nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE; Wim Wenders’ Oscar-nominated documentary PINA; Werner Herzog’s CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS; Abdellatif Kechiche’s award-winning BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos; Richard Rowley’s Oscar-nominated DIRTY WARS; and John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s Oscar-nominated FINDING VIVIAN MAIER. Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About IFC MIDNIGHT
Established in 2010 and based in New York City, IFC Midnight is a leading U.S. distributor of genre entertainment including horror, science fiction, thrillers, erotic art house, action and more. Upcoming releases include Abner Pastoll’s ROAD GAMES. Some of the company’s previous successes have included Jennifer Kent’s critically acclaimed THE BABADOOK; Ben Wheatley’s unconventional hitman thriller KILL LIST; and Rodney Ascher’s acclaimed documentary ROOM 237. IFC Midnight is a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Films, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
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