FEATURE
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“Over the years I’ve had meaningful guid-
ance from producer Joni Sighvatsson and indie sales guru Kevin Iwashina. Independ- ent fi lm continues to shift towards effi cient distribution models allowing more lucrative opportunities for talented fi lm-makers out- side the studio system. It gives me joy to con- nect filmed entertainment to the markets and audiences that most appreciate it.”
Christian De Gallegos Director of international sales Voltage Pictures (US)
■ Earned a degree in international business from the University of Arizona in 2004. ■ Worked in the feature/TV talent and music departments at Paradigm from 2004-07. ■ Joined Voltage Pictures in 2008 in International Film & TV Distribution. “Starting in the agency world gave me an overview of the entertainment industry and it was where I discovered foreign sales, which coming from an international back- ground, was an exciting fi t. “I was soon fortunate to work alongside
Nicolas Chartier and Nadine de Barros in Voltage’s early days, sharing the success of the past few years, from action movies to Oscars. It has inspired me to strive towards my goal of strengthening partnerships and relationships, while pushing to elevate con- tent for the global marketplace. “With the distribution landscape chang-
ing, there is potential for emerging markets to power our financing models, creating opportunities for the right projects to fl our-
■ 48 Screen International at Cannes May 18, 2012
ish. Weighing budget and material with sup- ply and demand will be key to a prosperous future in our fi eld.”
Jeff Deutchman Director of acquisitions IFC Films/Sundance Selects (US)
■ Graduate of Northwestern University in film history and theory. ■ Started in distribution for Samuel Goldwyn Films and then the marketing department at IFC Films. ■ As director of acquisitions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films, he has discovered and acquired films including Cave Of Forgotten Dreams, The Art Of The Steal, genre films The Human Centipede, Valhalla Rising and Kill List, and indie breakthroughs Medicine For Melancholy, Cold Weather and Weekend. ■ He was also director and producer of documentary 11/4/08 — a vérité collage of footage shot worldwide on the day Barack Obama was elected. The film had its world premiere at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival. “I got into this business because I love eve- rything about movies, from their ability to make ghosts out of mortals to their power to shape ideas on a massive scale. My own ideas about film have been shaped by extremely generous mentors, including [my father] Ira Deutchman, who taught me how to ride a bike among other things; Will Schmenner who curated my college art- house; Ryan Werner, Arianna Bocco, Jonathan Sehring and John Vanco from IFC; and the late Bingham Ray with whom
I had the good fortune to work for a year. “Right now, I’m excited by the prospect of
on-demand as a platform that could increase the breadth of fi lms publicly available to a point never seen before, if we all play our cards right. An ambition of mine is to be involved with the effort to overcome any hur- dles in the way of that cinephile dream.”
Emil Elmer Senior vice-president of international sales Focus Features (US)
■ Began at Miramax Films, where he spent over eight years in acquisitions, production, marketing and publicity. ■ Became head of acquisitions for Pathé Distribution, where he tracked projects worldwide for distribution in the UK. Was a full-time consultant for a film financing company, working on projects from the production phase through the world sales process. “I’ve been fortunate to gain valuable experi- ence at Miramax, where I spent enough time to see how the company operated, and at Pathé being part of the team that helped greenlight Slumdog Millionaire. “I spent a signifi cant amount of time in
acquisitions and thinking like a buyer, so I think I have a unique perspective now that I have joined the other side. “The industry is coming out of a lull and
while there are still a few distressed territo- ries, things are beginning to even out with VoD — for example players like Netfl ix and
LoveFilm are becoming active in the UK. It’s crucial to know your product, talent, buyers and observe what’s working and what’s not. It’s a very exciting time at Focus with Moon- rise Kingdom opening Cannes and the com- pany celebrating its tenth anniversary.”
Clay Epstein Vice-president of sales and acquisitions Arclight Films (US)
■ Graduated from Cal State Northridge Film School in 1999. ■ Worked as co-ordinator in international sales at Kushner-Locke. ■ In 2003, joined First Look Media as director of operations . ■ Worked at the Little Film Company as VP of sales acquisitions from 2006. ■ Two-term board member of IFTA from 2008 up to the present. ■ From 2010, served as an instructor at New York Film Academy. “Kushner-Locke was my graduate school, exposing me to the real world while prepar- ing me for First Look Media and meeting Robbie Little for the first time. Knowing I had studied in Italy, he asked in Italian who my favourite soccer team was. When I replied in Italian, he looked at Liz Mackie- wicz and said, ‘Well, he can speak Italian, how bad can he be?’ I treasure his advice: ‘Stick to doing business with like-minded, trustworthy people… or try to.’ Reputation and good taste is his trademark and he’s passed that down to me.
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Christian De Gallegos
Deutchman Jeff
Christine D’Souza
Emil Elmer
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