Jean Prewitt will step down as president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) at the end of 2025 after a 25-year tenure a
Jean Prewitt will step down as president and CEO of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) at the end of 2025 after a 25-year tenure at the organisation.
IFTA has retained the firm McCormack + Kristel to support its search for Prewitt’s successor. Prewitt and the IFTA board have been planning the transition for several months, and she will work with her successor during the transition.
The highly regarded Prewitt recently ensured the return to Los Angeles of the American Film Market (November 11-16) after a single edition in Las Vegas.
The ultimately unpopular move to the Nevada desert followed years of rising complaints about the AFM’s conventional Santa Monica location, mainly from buyers, who argued it was too steep and spread out to far across town. This year’s AFM takes place in Century City and sources said they were pleased with the idea of conducting business in a central location within effortless reach of the studios and agencies.
Prewitt guided IFTA and AFM through the seismic disruption of Covid and the dual Hollywood strikes. She has additionally worked for years to ensure the global independent sector has been represented and informed about major issues such as copyright protections, the removal of trade barriers, tax incentives, royalty collections, and changes in licensing practices.
“Jean’s vision and dedication have been instrumental in shaping both IFTA and AFM into the global pillars of our industry they are today,” said Clay Epstein, IFTA chairperson and president of Film Mode Entertainment. “Her leadership has navigated profound challenges while ensuring that independent film and television companies have a powerful voice and the resources to thrive in a constantly evolving business. It will be difficult to match her impact, but we are excited about the future for IFTA she has set in motion.”
“It has been a privilege to serve IFTA and the independent sector for the past 25 years,” said Prewitt. “Driving IFTA through recent transitions – including AFM’s return to Los Angeles in 2025 and strengthening the independent industry’s capacity to meet change – has been immensely rewarding. This feels like the right moment to pass the torch as the Alliance prepares for its next chapter. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead for the independents.”
Prior to IFTA Prewitt, a Harvard economics graduate who also studied at Georgetown University Law Center, practiced law, served as SVP and general counsel at Universal International Pictures, worked for an agency advising the Bill Clinton administration on international telecommunications policy, and led the Washington-based public affairs film Podesta Associates.
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