Film executive Ann Lyon has died
Film executive Ann Lyons has passed away after a short illness this week.
Lyons was co-founder of LA-based IFM World Releasing Inc and long time business partner of Antony I Ginnane in Australia’s FG Film Productions PTY LTD.
Ginnane said: “I have lost my best friend. Ann was the rock solid underpinning of our production and distribution activity for more than 30 years. She was an extraordinary judge of story and had an editor’s eye for structure.”
Lyons began her film industry career in 1976 on immigration to Australia, after joining the Melbourne-based studio Corporation and The Film House. In her early years she worked as an assistant to director Fred Schepisi.
Joining Ginanne in 1981 at FG Productions, Lyons collaborated on the production and financing of films Turkey Shoot, High Tide and The Lighthorseman, and supervised their local and international distribution.
In 1996, after Lyons relocation to Los Angeles in 1993, she and Ginnane created IFM Film Associates, and later IFM World Releasing Inc.
Over the last 15 years Lyons was executive producer on films such as The Truth about Juliet (1997), Black Light (1998), Sweet Revenge (2000) and Arctic Blast (2010).
Lyons was executive producing Last Dance by David Pulbrook in Melbourne at the time of her death.
Her son Anthony J Lyons is vice-president, international for FG/IFM.
