Mc Manus to Drive Development and Marketing for IFP Annual Programming And Newly-Launched Made In NY Media Center By IFP

October 9, 2013 (New York, NY) – The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) announced today that Sean Mc Manus has joined the IFP team as its Director of External Affairs, overseeing IFP’s development and marketing for its annual programming and newly-launched Made in NY Media Center by IFP.

Mc Manus will lead unified marketing and development efforts for the Media Center, 35^th anniversary initiatives and IFP’s annual events including the Gotham Awards, Independent Film Week, and Filmmaker Magazine.  He will split his time between New York and Los Angeles, representing IFP on both coasts.  Mc Manus joins IFP’s previously announced staff hires for the Media Center including: Director of Programming, Brent Hoff and Managing Director of Operations & Administration, Andrea Baker, and Producer of Education Programs Nekisa Cooper.

“We are incredibly excited to bring Sean Mc Manus on board as our Director of External Affairs.  Not only does he have extensive experience, he knows IFP well and will help us grow new relationships with partners such as Verizon, Illy, and others not yet announced,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of IFP and the Made in NY Media Center. “His talents and vision are well known in our industry and we could not be more excited about him joining our team as we embark on our 35^th year and roll out the Media Center’s programming.”

Sean R. Mc Manus has nearly 20 years of experience building organizations in both the domestic/international film and non-profit worlds.  He’s dedicated the past 15 years to empowering artists, most recently at Film Independent, a national non-profit dedicated to championing artist-driven filmmaking and expanding the audience for independent film. He joined Film Independent (formerly IFP/West) in 1998 as Development Director, was promoted to Senior Director in 2006, Interim Executive Director in 2011 and Co-President in 2012.  Sean oversaw all aspects of Film Independent—management and administration, fund development, marketing and communications, technology, and a robust portfolio of programs, including the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival.   He engaged and galvanized stakeholders resulting in expansion of the organization’s annual budget, strengthened branding and delivery of new and ongoing major programs.  Sean expanded direct grants to filmmakers, launched Film Independent at LACMA (a weekly public film series), secured partnerships with print, broadcast, radio, outdoor, and online media, developed creative funding opportunities and fellowships, secured sponsorships and grants, negotiated domestic and international licensing deals and built lasting relationships that strengthened services to independent filmmakers.  Sean is a graduate of the USC School of Business.

“With last week’s opening of the Media Center and the upcoming 35th anniversary next year, there are so many reasons to be excited about what IFP has accomplished and continues to do for the independent film community,” said Sean Mc Manus, Director of External Affairs.
I’m looking forward to working with Executive Director Joana Vicente and the entire team to amplify and expand IFP’s vital mission.

About IFP

The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP) is the premier advocacy organization for independent filmmakers, championing the future of storytelling in the digital age by fostering a vibrant and sustainable independent filmmaking community. IFP has supported over 7,000 films and offered resources to more than 20,000 filmmakers over its 34-year history, developing 350 new feature and documentary films each year. IFP represents a growing network of 10,000 filmmakers in New York City and around the world.  IFP guides filmmakers in the art, technology, and business of independent filmmaking through its annual programming and the state-of-the-art Made in NY Media Center by IFP, a new incubator space developed with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where storytellers from multiple disciplines, industries, and platforms create, collaborate, and connect.  Other programs include Filmmaker Magazine, Independent Film Week^TM, Envision^TM, The Gotham Independent Film Awards^TM, and the Independent Filmmaker Labs^TM. More info at www.ifp.org

About the Made In NY Media Center by IFP

The Made in NY Media Center by IFP is where storytellers from multiple disciplines, industries and platforms create, collaborate, connect and incubate across a spectrum of programs, events and experiences. The Center brings together innovators in film, video, gaming, technology and more through education, mentorship, entrepreneurship and content creation. The 20,000-square-foot facility is located on the ground floor of 30 John Street in DUMBO at the intersection of John and Jay Streets features co-working spaces, talent incubator, 72-seat screening room, art gallery and café in addition to dedicated spaces for classes, conferences, meetings and tenancy.  Through a combination of membership-driven and public-access programming our Center champions the future of storytelling in the digital age through a unique focus on cross-platform and cross-discipline media innovation.  www.nymediacenter.com

About The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment

The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment consists of the Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, facilitating and supporting film and TV production throughout the five boroughs; NYC Digital, which works to realize New York City’s potential as the world’s leading digital city; and NYC Media, the official TV, radio and online network of the City of New York. The agency’s mission is to streamline government communications by making information accessible, leveraging technology to aid in the transparency of government and by supporting relevant media and entertainment industries in New York City.

For more information, please contact:

Lindsay Firestone – [email protected] – 212-373-6131

Jody Arlington – [email protected] – 202-316-4316 mobile