The Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) is an innovative, independent social-impactorganization that endeavors to bridge the gap between the worlds of filmmaking and finance for the benefit of all stakeholders — including the public at large. Founded in 2003, IIFF is incorporated in California as a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation. IIFF is headquartered in San Francisco and has chapters in the SF Bay Area, New York City, New England, Florida, Los Angeles, and Switzerland.


IIFF is coming to Boston!

After successfully establishing chapters in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, New England and Los Angeles, the Institute for International Film Financing (IIFF) continues its monthly, multi-city gatherings at the junction of film and finance with a special event in downtown Boston, MA. This month's New England Townhall Meeting in Boston, MA, is graciously hosted by Exemplar Law Partners and Suffolk University Law School.

This "grassroots" community meeting is designed to introduce IIFF to Connecticut's filmmakers, entrepreneurs and financiers as well as the public at large. Our goal for this and future gatherings is not only to provide unbiased insight & education about the business of film —and film financing in particular— but also to foster & inform productive relationships between attending professionals. The event features a powerful roster of highly topical speakers from the worlds of film and finance. We are delighted to welcome real-world financiers among our guests for the evening.

The evening's presentations plus panel discussion will address key issues relevant to filmmakers, financiers, and anyone interested in the economics, business mechanics, and financial dynamics of film. They will be followed by Q&A time. Attendees will also have ample opportunity to interact & network with our distinguished presenters and panelists and amongst themselves.

Program Details:

PROGRAM SCHEDULE
6:00-6:30 pm ... Registration and introductions
6:30-7:45 pm ... Three featured presentations with Q&A (4x20 min)
7:45-8:00 pm ... Networking break (15 min)
8:00-9:40 pm ... Four featured presentations with Q&A (3x20 min)
9:40-10:00 pm ... Moderated panel discussion with Q&A (20 min)
10:00+ pm ... Community time at area restaurant
 MODERATOR
The event will be moderated by Donald Bertrand, a veteran financial-sector corporate attorney turned private-practice lawyer who provides entertainment law services in Connecticut and New York. Don's law office in West Haven, CT (www.ctLawHaven.com) represents various clients on a host of screenwriter, composer, producer and filmmaker issues.

PRESENTERS

"Alternative capital structures for film financing" by Christopher Marston, a prominent member of the Boston financial and legal community, focused on financial structures for corporations and the entertainment and film industry.  As the Founding Partner of Exemplar Law Partners, Christopher works closely with Exemplar's emerging enterprise clients as a strategic partner by combining his advanced business expertise and education with his legal savvy to take clients to the next level.  As a former Chief Financial Officer for a technology company, Christopher serves our Exemplary clients in the areas of Corporate Structuring, M&A, Venture Capital, Valuation and Leveraging of Intellectual Property, Contracts, Start-Up, Licensing, and Negotiation.  In addition, Christopher serves as outside General Counsel and business partner to mid-market companies across industries. On the Business Consulting side, Christopher also assists his business clients in raising capital, building management teams, pricing strategy, market positioning, partnering, and venture capital and angel connections.

"What Filmmakers and Financiers Need to Know About Digital Distribution" by Scott Kirsner, editor of the blog CinemaTech (http://cinematech.blogspot.com), which covers the intersection of filmmaking and new technologies. He is also a weekly columnist for the Boston Globe, and a regular contributor to Variety and BusinessWeek. His most recent book is "The Future of Web Video: New Opportunities for Producers, Entrepreneurs, Media Companies, and Advertisers."

"Strategically Funding Independent Films Using Tax Credits and How an Independent Film Recoups and Profits" by Vinca Liane Jarrett, who today with her newly founded legal practice in conjunction with FilmPro Finance LLC, has become a leading innovator and representative in the entertainment industry.  Attorney Jarrrett represents a variety of established and budding filmmakers from the organization of their film companies through finding distribution for their projects. She attends dozens of key film festivals, assisting clients negotiate deals and packaging clients music and film projects. Additionally, through her company FilmPro Finance, LLC Jarrett makes introductions to producer clients to potential sources of financing. In 2002 Jarrett formed the company FilmPro Finance LLC assisting primarily A-list producers establish funding for a slate of pictures from various sources that include bank financing, co-production and equity.
    
"Film Financing for the Short Film?" by Kevin Anderton, a Boston University graduate (MFA 2000) who founded Midnight Chimes Productions in 1999. Since then he has assembled a group of similar-minded talent to make over 60 shorts. In an effort to support and grow the local film community, he runs networking events, promotes local events, and has worked on several short films in the Boston area in such roles as set designer, gaffer, and key grip. His professional credits also include the IMAX film Kilimanjaro: To The Roof of Africa and The Good Son. His full resume and filmography can be found here.
 
“Tom Trenker’s Hollywood Profits Quantitative Drivers of Motion Picture Profitability” presented by Donald Bertrand, a veteran financial-sector corporate attorney turned private-practice lawyer providing entertainment law services in the Connecticut and New York. Don's law office in West Haven, CT represents various clients on a host of screenwriter, composer, producer and filmmaker issues. Don is a graduate of Yale Law School. Upon graduation, he joined a prominent Hartford, CT-based insurance & investment firm where he managed the Law Department's Financial Services Practice Group as Vice President and Insurance & Investment Products Counsel. Don has now transitioned to an area of law practice where he can apply his extensive legal knowledge and background to issues involving his lifelong passion for the cultural and creative arts, principally film. In this area, Don seeks to apply fundamental business law principles to the creative endeavors of the talent and entrepreneurs that he meets.

Other Presenters – To be Announced

IIFF New England Townhall Meeting (Thursday, October 4, 2007)
Suffolk University Law School - Sargent Hall, Room 170
120 Tremont Street, Boston, MA

SIGN UP ONLINE AT: www.filmfinancing.org
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Time
6:00 pm ET - 10:00 pm ET

Location
Suffolk University Law School
120 Tremont Street
Sargent Hall, Room 170
Boston, MA 02108 Suffolk University Law School