Bobby Myers obit

Bobby Meyers Dies: AFM Co-Founder Who Had A Long & Influential Career In Indie Film Was 90

 

He was not on the list.

Robert “Bobby” Meyers, a founding member of the American Film Market whose half-century-plus career in indie movies, sales and distribution included stints at Columbia, Lorimar, Orion and Village Roadshow, died Sunday at his New Jersey home. He was 90. AFM producer Independent Film & Television Alliance confirmed the news but did not provide a cause of death.

During a long career that started in 1956, Meyers was behind the release of such notable films as Brian De Palma’s Obsession (1976) and Blow Out (1981), Robert Aldrich’s Burt Lancaster starr Twilight’s Last Gleaming (1977) and Hal Ashby’s Peter Sellers-led classic Being There (1979).

Born on October 3, 1934, Meyers joined Columbia Pictures International during the 1950s, serving in Paris and Brussels and eventually becoming the European sales manager. He later held executive posts at National General Pictures, Lorimar Motion Pictures, Filmways Productions, Orion Pictures and Village Roadshow, playing a pivotal role in international film sales and distribution.

In 1981, while heading sales at Lorimar Motion Pictures and later as President of Filmways, Meyers was one of the key figures who led a consortium of international sales companies to launch the American Film Market. AFM debuted that year in Westwood amid a significant rise in indie filmmaking and addressed the need for a way to facilitate film sales in Hollywood.

He also was the first Chairman of the American Film Marketing Association, or which became the IFTA. After serving two terms, he continued to be heavily involved with the association for the next 40 years, holding positions including Vice Chairman and sitting on the executive committee and board. He attended the AFM annually as well as the Cannes Film Festival and Market.

“Bobby was instrumental in encouraging and shaping the independent film industry landscape throughout his extensive career,” ITFA President and CEO Jean Prewitt, said. “Bobby was a trusted colleague, a confident and an advisor whose insight and support mattered to me and to all who had the pleasure of working with him.”

Meyers is survived by his wife, Roberta; children Adam, David and Jen Meyers; grandchildren Eric Meyers, Rachel Severo, Carly Meyers, Samantha Meyers, Benjamin Meyers, Asher Meyers-Light, Bodhi Meyers-Light, Ida Zoll and Florian Zoll and spouses; and great-grandchildren Jacob Meyers and Kara Meyers.