At a time when the lines have blurred irrevocably between film and television; when studios have abandoned even the pretense of financing or distributing anything but mega-budget blockbusters; when an increasing amount of narrative content is streamed directly to your living room, laptop, or phone, what does the future hold for independent film? Does it still matter? Is this the end of days, or the start of a new golden age? Our panel will feature a group of energetic new voices in the distribution field who wrangle with these questions daily, including BAMCinematek programmer Ryan Werner and Good Deed Entertainment Director of Digital Sales and Columbia Film alum Alece Oxendine, moderated by IndieWire co-founder Eugene Hernandez.
This panel is part of NY Indie Guy: Ira Deutchman and the Rise of Independent Film
On September 14-16 and September 20-23, 2018, Columbia University’s Lenfest Center for the Arts will host a retrospective exhibit honoring the career of Film Professor and Producing Concentration Supervisor Ira Deutchman. Since 1975, Deutchman has been a leader in distributing, marketing, and producing American independent films, international films, and arthouse films. He is perhaps best known for founding and running the distribution companies Cinecom, Fine Line Features, and Emerging Pictures. Deutchman has taught at Columbia since 1987.
This retrospective will screen essential motion pictures from various points in Deutchman’s career, such as The Brother From Another Planet; Diva; Harlan County USA; sex, lies, & videotape; Swoon; and A Woman Under the Influence. Many showings will feature Q&A talkbacks with filmmakers or performers. The celebration will also include panel discussions and an extensive exhibit covering Deutchman’s impact on cinema.
Sponsors
The Art House Convergence
Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard
Film and Media Studies, Columbia University School of the Arts
The Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities at Columbia University
The Institute for Research on Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Columbia University
The University of Michigan Library