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SUSAN CLEARY PROMOTED TO VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL FOR INDEPENDENT FILM & TELEVISION ALLIANCE
Reny Montesinos Upped To Manager, I.F.T.A. Collections
Los Angeles, CA, August 2, 2004 -- Susan Cleary has been promoted to Vice President and General Counsel of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (formerly AFMA), it was announced today by Jean M. Prewitt, President and CEO of the International Film & Television Alliance. In addition, Reny Montesinos will assume the post of Manager, I.F.T.A. Collections.
In her new position, Cleary will continue to oversee legal matters and arbitration activities for the International Film & Television Alliance, and adds supervision of I.F.T.A. Collections (formerly AFMA Collections) to her responsibilities. I.F.T.A. Collections manages the worldwide claims for and collection of audio-visual royalties and levies for more than 125 participating companies and generates more than $5 million a year for its participants.
“We’re delighted to recognize Susan’s substantial contributions to the Independent Film & Television Alliance with this promotion,” said Prewitt. “She provides effective and thorough legal guidance to the association and manages the dissemination of critical licensing and anti-piracy information to our members. I.F.T.A. Collections will greatly benefit from her expertise and management skills. We also recognize Reny Montesinos’ keen knowledge of day-to-day operations and client services in promoting him to run the ongoing Collections activities.”
Cleary previously held the title of Vice President, Legal Affairs. She joined the organization in 1998 as Director, Legal Affairs, originally handling licensing and intellectual property matters.
Cleary is active in the entertainment legal community having served as the Chairman of the Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Section of the Los Angeles Country Bar Association. She is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Donald E.
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Biederman National Entertainment and Media Law Institute at Southwestern University School of Law. Cleary received her Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree of Art from Rutgers University, and holds a Law degree from Southwestern University, Los Angeles.
Montesinos has served as Coordinator of Client Services since joining the organization in 2000. Formerly, he worked as the Education Programs Coordinator for the San Diego Zoo where he collaborated with various political organizations to enhance education throughout the community.
About the Independent Film & Television Alliance
The Independent Film & Television Alliance (formerly AFMA) is the global trade association of the independent motion picture and television programming industry. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents and provides significant entertainment industry services to more than 150 member companies from 15 countries, consisting of independent production and distribution companies, sales agents, television companies, studio-affiliated companies, and financial institutions engaged in film finance. Forty percent of the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s membership and thirty percent of the association’s board of directors are from outside the U.S. Collectively, the Independent Film & Television Alliance’s members produce more than 400 independent films and countless hours of television programming each year and generate more than $4 billion in distribution revenues annually.
About I.F.T.A. Collections
I.F.T.A. Collections orchestrates the collection of international audio-visual royalties and levies for more than 125 participating companies. The service is open to both Independent Film & Television Alliance member and non-member companies and has collected over $25 million on behalf of its participants. I.F.T.A. Collections actively collects cable retransmission royalties, private copy levies, video rental levies, educational royalties, theatrical box office levies, public performance television royalties and public performance video royalties from more than 25 producer and author societies throughout the world. I.F.T.A. Collections' advocacy activities and its presence at international societies enable it to significantly impact the establishment of payment rights and the distribution of funds. I.F.T.A. Collections’ administrative systems allow it to aggressively seek, receive and disburse monies to its participants. For more information, please visit www.IFTA-online.org.
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