Eli Roth to Deliver Keynote at IFTA Production Conference

LOS ANGELES: The 13th annual IFTA Production Conference, scheduled for April 20 in Los Angeles, has lined up acclaimed independent filmmaker Eli Roth to deliver this year’s keynote address.

The Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) will bring together producers with finance, distribution and digital marketing execs to take part in the conference, entitled Cost Isn’t An Obstacle Anymore! New Avenues to Finance, Produce & Distribute Films at Any Budget. The conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles.

Roth is the writer, producer and director of hits such as Cabin Fever and Hostel and is the producer of The Last Exorcism. While Roth is set for the the keynote address, others set to take the stage include Damian Hagger, the co-founder and executive producer of 6StringMedia. A panel will focus on the how the commercial distribution opportunities for films at any budget level is changing as the industry embraces new and unconventional resources for financing, producing and distributing indie films. Panelists include Michael Arrieta, the CEO of Big Air Studios; Adam Chapnick, the principal of IndieGoGo.com; Rich Goldberg, the president of Arc Entertainment; David Rimawi, a partner in The Asylum; Hal Sadoff, executive producer of Hotel Rwanada; Travis Stevens, founder of Snowfort Pictures; and Rob Weston, the managing director of Straightwire Films.

“More and more, we’re seeing smaller budget films gaining increased opportunities and credibility exemplified by the fact that they are becoming more commercially attractive to mainstream sales outlets, financers and distributors,” said Jean Prewitt, IFTA’s president and CEO. “Filmmakers are also becoming increasingly savvy about the growing opportunities for unique financing models, marketing hooks and what audiences want. This year’s conference shines a light on producers who have broken through and what it takes to make your film viable for representation, distribution and worldwide success.”