1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Track B:
Short Film - From Film Festivals to the Business Model for the Net
The web has spawned a whole new category of film - the short film. While it may be true that short films have been around forever, let’s face facts - nobody cared about them until web companies came on board. Now, everybody - even Steven Spielberg is making shorts. Anyone who scoffs at this form doesn’t grasp how the Net can put an idea into play. Shorts are hot! In this session, we will hear from the primary Net players who will give us their game plan on how Short Films will evolve from a ghettoized art form into a business model.
Matti Leshem, CEO, AntEye.com
Michael Gnojewski, Vice President New Media, Sundance Channel
David Beal, CEO, sputnik7.com
Olivier Zitoun, founder & CEO, Eveo
Jeremy Bernard, CEO and founder, reelshort.com
Rick Bender, Director Online Media, American Film Institute
Pop.com, speaker to be announced
Allen DeBevoise, President and Chief Executive Officer, Creative Planet, Moderator
Olivier Zitoun, founder & CEO, Eveo: An executive with more than 15 years in the Internet and telecommunications industry, Olivier Zitoun was previously CEO of Aplio, a groundbreaking Internet telephony and appliance company. From 1991-97, Zitoun was senior vice president and general manager of Artisoft, which makes communication software for small businesses. Prior to joining Eveo as chief content officer, Alan Sternfeld was Executive Vice President at ABC Entertainment, responsible for the development and production of the company's entertainment series and film acquisitions, including primetime shows such as America's Funniest Home Videos. In an earlier post ABC, Sternfeld directed the network's program planning and scheduling. Before joining ABC, Sternfeld was Vice President at Fox Broadcasting Network where he oversaw creative production of all primetime series. Sternfeld also was Vice President, Program Planning at NBC Entertainment, directing both short and long term planning and scheduling.
Matti Leshem, CEO, AntEye.com: Matti Leshem is the CEO of AntEye.com, a unique interactive online community that offers support to innovative creators of filmed, videotaped, and digitally captured programming. Launched in April 2000, AntEye.com is a platform that provides inspiration, audience, and opportunity of financial support to innovative creators. The company provides pilot budgets of up to $100,000 and digital film budgets of up to $250,000. In a 50/50 partnership with the creator, AntEye will market the most promising programming for sale and search out syndication deals tot he television, film, Internet and broadband markets. Leshem has been asked to speak at eTV World and Digital Living Room
Michael Gnojewski, Vice President New Media, Sundance Channel: Michael Gnojewski is Vice President of New Media for the Sundance Channel, a premium television service under the creative direction of Robert Redford. The Sundance Channel brings television viewers the film festival experience by presenting a diverse selection of feature films, shorts, documentaries and international cinema, all uncut and commercial free. It is Gnojewski’s responsibility to establish and guide the channels online initiatives, focusing on creative, programming and marketing resources. Gnojewski is one of the founding team members of the Channel. Prior to he was with Showtime Network’s Business Development groups as Director, Brand Development.
Jeremy Bernard, CEO and founder, reelshort.com: Jeremy founded reelshort.com in February 1999, recognizing that there was a tremendous pool of talented emerging filmmakers seeking exposure and that the Internet provided a powerful platform through which these filmmakers could be discovered. As a former feature film/television producer on projects including "One Fine Day," "Central Park West" and the Emmy Award-winning AMC sitcom "Remember WENN," Jeremy worked closely with up and coming filmmakers who were seeking distribution and audiences for their short-subject work. Launched in September of 1999, the reelshort.com destination site married the current Internet technology to stream short films and the creative work of independent filmmakers. Prior to TV and film producing, Jeremy managed audit and consulting projects at Big Five accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP for entertainment and media clients including News Corp. and Omnicom. A native of New Jersey, Jeremy graduated with a B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he majored in Accounting and International Business.
Allen DeBevoise, President and Chief Executive Officer, Creative Planet, Moderator: Mr.
DeBevoise is one of the founders of Creative Planet and has been the driving force behind the company since its inception. Mr. DeBevoise brings more than 20 years experience in the multimedia and interactive business to Creative Planet. Before founding the company, Mr. DeBevoise was President and CEO of TCI Interactive, TCI’s Internet investment vehicle. While at TCI he executed investments in Sportsline, iVillage and Interzine. Prior to TCI, Mr. DeBevoise was President and CEO of AND Interactive Communications, an award-winning interactive design and production company, which he sold to TCI in 1994. Mr. DeBevoise’s experience also includes a tenure at Robert Abel & Associates, a visual effects firm, where he was Technical Director then Creative Director. Mr. DeBevoise graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Mathematics and an M.S.E. in Computer Science.