IFTA Elections: New Chairperson & Board from STUDIOCANAL, Highland Film, More Announced

The Independent Film & Television Alliance® (IFTA®) today announced the results of its annual elections of the Chairperson and Board of Directors for the 2025-2027 term.  The newly seated Board underscores IFTA’s ongoing commitment to leadership that advances the growth, strength, and global influence of the independent film and television industry.

Paul Bales, Partner and Chief Operating Officer at The Asylum, has been elected Chairperson. Bales, who has served several terms on the IFTA Board since 2015, succeeds outgoing Chair Clay Epstein (Film Mode Entertainment) who served two consecutive 2-year terms.

Bales joins IFTA’s 15-member Board of Directors, along with seven IFTA member executives : Scott Bedno, Managing Director, Sales & Acquisitions, TPC, Shaked Berenson, CEO, Entertainment Squad, Scott Jones, President/CEO, Artist View Entertainment, Chloé Marquet, Head of International Sales, STUDIOCANAL, Delphine Perrier, COO, Highland Film Group, Lise Romanoff, Managing Director/CEO, Vision Films, and Michael Ryan, Director, Gleneagles Films. This marks the first term on the IFTA Board for Jones and Perrier.

Directors currently serving the second year of their two-year Board term are Brian Beckmann, CFO, Arclight Films,Caroline Couret-Delegue, Managing Director, Film Seekers Limited, Michael Dwyer, EVP, Worldwide Sales & Distribution, Resurgence Media Group, Michael Favelle, CEO, Odin’s Eye Entertainment, Diane Ferrandez, SVP, Worldwide Sales & Distribution, AGC Studios, George Hamilton, Chief Commercial Officer, Protagonist Pictures, and Alice Laffille, VP, International Sales, FilmNation Entertainment.

“I’m proud to serve as Chairperson and to continue IFTA’s vital work on behalf of the Independents,” said Bales. “These are challenging times for the industry, and I’m especially pleased to serve alongside such an experienced and thoughtful group of Directors, each possessing great instincts, knowledge, and the ability to persevere. Our members are the bedrock of a creative and innovative industry and IFTA is committed to supporting their efforts to get independent films made and to reach audiences around the world.”

“Paul’s deep understanding of our business and unwavering commitment to IFTA will make him an outstanding Chairperson,” said Jean Prewitt, IFTA President & CEO. “His leadership, together with our newly appointed Board, will be invaluable as we navigate both the ongoing challenges and new opportunities ahead. Their resilience continues to define what it means to be independent.”

Since 2006, Paul Bales has been the Chief Operating Officer and Partner at The Asylum, a production and distribution company based in Burbank, California. Since its founding in 1997, The Asylum has released more than 500 films and built a library of over 300 original productions, including top-rated series for Syfy and Netflix, and the Sharknadofranchise. Prior to joining The Asylum, Bales served as National Director of SAGIndie, the Screen Actors Guild outreach program for independent producers. Bales has been active with IFTA, having played a 

key role as an elected member of the Board of Directors throughout his career, most recently during the 2023–2025 term. He is also a long-time member of the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.