Ira Deutchman Steps Down As Columbia Film Chair
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In a new entry on his blog, Columbia University film professor and Emerging Pictures Co-Founder and Managing Partner Ira Deutchman shares that he has stepped down as Chair of the university’s film program. As Deutchman notes, “The end of my chairmanship should not be much of a surprise to anyone who has been paying attention. The position is a rotating one among faculty, and Columbia has very strict term limits.”
Deutchman has served as chairman since July of 2011, and has taught at Columbia since 1987. His signature course, first styled as “Marketing and Distribution of Feature Films,” has been taught since Deutchman joined the faculty and is now known as “The Business of Motion Pictures.”
Deutchman’s long career in film — specifically independent film — began during his education at Northwestern University, and he has held positions at a number of distribution outlets, including United Artists Classics, Cinecom and New Line Features. As president and founder of Fine Line Features, Deutchman distributed such acclaimed films as “Hoop Dreams” and “My Own Private Idaho.” In 1995, Deutchman co-founded Redeemable Pictures. He continues to produce new films through his Emerging Pictures label, which he co-founded in 2002.
Deutchman will continue to teach at the university.
