News
DARRYL IWAI NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
D FILMS CORPORATION
NEW APPOINTMENT MARKS IWAI’S RETURN TO THE FILM INDUSTRY
ON MAY 31, 2010
For immediate release
TORONTO, ONTARIO, June 9, 2010 – – Darryl Iwai has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of D FILMS CORPORATION, Canada’s fastest growing Motion Picture Distribution Company. Iwai, a highly-regarded film industry executive and successful entrepreneur in kind, has a wealth of knowledge in motion picture financing, production and distribution.
The announcement, which marks the return to Iwai’s long roots in the film industry, was made today by President and CEO of D FILMS, Jim Sherry.
Mr. Iwai formerly served as President of Worldwide Distribution for Signpost Films. Signpost was established in 2001 with a core business focus towards international production and distribution with offices based in London and Los Angeles. As part of the executive management team, Mr. Iwai played an integral role in building Signpost Films and the company’s valuable film properties up until 2003 when the assets of the organization were acquired by an affiliate of a major U.S. Studio.
Prior to his role with Signpost, Mr. Iwai was the President of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment Canada from 1994 – 2000. During his tenure with PolyGram, Mr. Iwai was a senior member of the executive management team and spearheaded many of the organization’s growth initiatives most notably in content and library acquisitions and strategic financial partnerships. Under Mr. Iwai’s stewardship, PolyGram distributed many critically acclaimed and commercially influential films such as Four Weddings and a Funeral, Fargo, The Usual Suspects, Dead Man Walking and the British Comedy sensation Bean.
Mr. Iwai remained a Director on the Canadian Board of PolyGram throughout his term, which concluded with the acquisition of the organization by Seagrams and then ultimately Universal Studios.
Mr. Iwai began his career in the entertainment industry in 1987 as Vice President and General Manager of J.L. Bowerbank & Associates, an independent distribution company that represented Orion and MGM/UA Home Entertainment, amongst many other valuable properties.
He is currently a shareholder and Board member of KTI Limited and Fountain Hills Investments Ltd., private companies operating in the Energy and Real Estate industries, respectively.
Mr. Iwai holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto (1984) and is a Chartered Accountant (1987).
“Darryl is an exceptional executive who is uniformly respected for his long track record of success both within and outside of the entertainment sector,” said Jim Sherry. “His entrepreneurial spirit combined with his outstanding ability to build organizations will benefit D Films and our shareholders. We are flattered that Darryl has chosen to re-enter the motion picture distribution business with D Films and we look forward to his leadership and vision as we continue to grow our organization.”
“I am thrilled to work with D Films and to focus my attention once again on the entertainment sector, an area in which I have enjoyed many close personal relationships and professional successes,” said Darryl Iwai. “I commend management at D Films on their ability to build, in a very short period of time, an organization that is highly competitive and owns extremely valuable film assets. Jim is a very talented executive and we complement each other’s areas of expertise. We also share the same vision and long-term goals for the organization. I look forward to working with Jim and his team in building D Films into a North American brand with the strongest strategic partnerships and film assets from around the world.”
Established in May 2009, D Films is a Toronto-based, full service marketing and motion picture distribution boutique that acquires exclusive, long term rights to films across all platforms, including theatrical, television, home entertainment and Internet. As Canada’s fastest growing motion picture distribution company, D Films is led by Jim Sherry, President and Chief Executive Officer. The organization’s first acquisition under the D Films banner was Creation, which had its world premiere as the prestigious Opening Night Gala at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Since September 2009, D Films has acquired the exclusive long term rights to 12 additional motion pictures. Highlights include the eagerly awaited feature film Monsters, which is scheduled for release in October 2010 and Winnie, the biographical drama starring Oscar® winning actress Jennifer Hudson as Winnie Mandela and Academy® Award nominee Terrence Howard as Nelson Mandela, to be released in early 2011.
Visit the D Films web site at www.dfilmscorp.ca.