Evan Shapiro
President, IFC tv and Sundance Channel
As president of IFC tv and Sundance Channel, Evan Shapiro oversees the strategic development, management and operation of The Independent Film Channel (IFC) and Sundance Channel, television’s premier independent film networks. Mr. Shapiro was named to this post in June 2008. Since then, he has had a tremendous impact on both networks, strategically evolving the brands in response to the rapidly changing programming delivery technologies, industry trends and issues critical to their audiences.
In this role, Mr. Shapiro oversees the strategic direction of IFC and Sundance Channel’s programming, including original productions and acquisitions. He also serves as executive producer on a number of originals, including the critically-acclaimed documentary mini-series Brick City for Sundance Channel, and IFC’s musical mini-series event Bollywood Hero starring Chris Kattan. In 2009, Mr. Shapiro created Indienomics, a new advertising platform that served as the foundation of IFC and Sundance Channel’s first-ever joint Upfront and demonstrated the networks’ complimentary value to the advertising community. As part of this effort, Mr. Shapiro formed a unified sales force to oversee the two networks’ branded entertainment sponsorship efforts. IFC’s sponsorship deals have included partnerships with ABSOLUT®, Red Bull®, Heineken® and Target, while Sundance Channel’s partners have included Brita®, Green Works®, Stella Artois® and Ferrero Rocher®.
Prior to this role, Mr. Shapiro served for three years as executive vice president and general manager of IFC. During his tenure, IFC produced a number of thought-provoking and acclaimed original series, specials and documentaries, including This Film Is Not Yet Rated, which prompted the MPAA to discuss making changes to its film ratings process. IFC grew dramatically in scope and magnitude under Mr. Shapiro’s guidance. In 2008, IFC launched its first On Demand offering, IFC Free, and the network became available in high-definition. Mr. Shapiro broke new ground in 2007 by bringing R. Kelly’s Trapped in the Closet, a landmark "hip-hopera," to IFC.com. Called "the cultural event of the year" by New York magazine, Trapped in the Closet also served as the catalyst for driving a record number of visitors to IFC.com, which Mr. Shapiro remolded into a "second network" with extensive original content. Mr. Shapiro joined IFC in 2004 as senior vice president of marketing and in this role he launched some of IFC’s largest-ever marketing campaigns, including Film Fanatic Fridays and Pulp Month.
The industry honors bestowed upon IFC and Sundance Channel during Mr. Shapiro’s tenure include: BrandWeek Brand Builder (2005), two CableFAX Program Awards (2009), a CableFAXIES Award (2009), a Myers Media Innovation & Creativity Award (2006), a gold Reggie Award (2006), two silver Mark Awards (2006 and 2007), a Peabody Award - one of the most prestigious awards in electronic media (2006), seventeen PROMAX|BDA Awards (2007, 2008 and 2009), and a Web Marketing Association Web Award (2009).
Prior to joining IFC, Mr. Shapiro served as senior vice president of marketing for Court TV, where his campaigns for "Forensic Files" garnered several top awards. In 1996, Mr. Shapiro formed a marketing agency called FourFront, which he ran until joining Court TV. With clients such as HBO, Court TV, A&E, Microsoft and Universal Pictures, he developed marketing campaigns, events and guerrilla strategies for some of the world’s top brands. He was also integrally involved with the creation of countless Broadway enterprises such as The Lion King, Rent, Chicago, Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk and Freak. Before FourFront, Mr. Shapiro got his first major career lift as the director of marketing for the Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival, where he re-launched the venerable theater’s brand after 40 years and developed a new look and image for Shakespeare in the Park (FREE WILL!) and Noise/Funk.
Mr. Shapiro serves as chairman of the board for Ghetto Film School, the only youth-media non-profit in the country that specializes in providing young people of color with first-person access to the film industry, and serves on the board of New York Women in Cable Telecommunications (NYWICT). He is a member of the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and PROMAX. Mr. Shapiro served for four years as an adjunct professor of marketing at NYU and lectures for Columbia Business School, Stern School of Business, Fordham University and other business and marketing schools nationwide.