WENDY BERNFELD

Wendy Bernfeld, founder Rights Stuff BV, is a passionate film buff specialised in hard core content acquisition and distribution, licensing negotiations, and related strategy and rights advice, for traditional media (film, TV, Pay TV/pay per view, formats) and digital new media (Internet, IPTV, mobile, VOD, portable devices, consumer electronics platforms).

Originally from Montreal, Wendy has 20+ years (15+ in Europe) experience in film/Pay TV channel startup and programme buying, beginning originally as an entertainment lawyer and then spending the bulk of her career (before forming Rights Stuff in 1999) as a senior movie buyer/TV executive in various international TV networks.

Her most recent in-house role before founding Rights Stuff was as CEO of Canal+ International Acquisitions from 1993-98, in the centralised joint programme-buying conglomerates of FilmNet/NetHold/Canal+, after many years as a multi-region, multi-platform content buyer and channel startup executive. In that era she furthered her particular  speciality in major MPAA studio movie ‘output’ and international ‘indie’ deals, while also further enhancing her knowledge of regional cultural tastes and the various distinctive consumer and business approaches.

Prior to her positions at Canal+, she was Managing Director of Alliance-Atlantis (film co-production and distribution) in Europe (1991-93) and before that, VP of Programme Acquisition for First Choice/Movie Network in Canada (1984-91).

Wendy has a Bachelor of Law Degree (LLB) from Queens University, after a year of BA/MBA courses in McGill and University of Toronto. She is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada as well as on the Roll of Solicitors in the UK. Earlier in her career, she practiced law in Canada with Blake Cassels & Graydon, Silverstein’s, and, still earlier, was 1 of 10 appointed as Law Clerk to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

In December 2010, Wendy was named as one of the “Brave Thinkers of Indie Film, 2010” by Oscar-winning independent producer Ted Hope,.