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IFILM Increases The Executive Fold. IFILM, a leading Internet resource for film fans, filmmakers and film industry professionals, has increased their fold by three. The company announced the appointments of Kevin Wendle, a co-founder of CNET and Fox Broadcasting Company, as chief executive officer; Doug Sylvester, a co-founder of E! On-line, as president and chief operating officer; and Tom Harbeck, former head of programming for the Sundance Channel and a senior Nickelodeon marketing executive, as the company's Senior VP of programming, marketing and creative director. "As IFILM's first investor, Kevin Wendle has been actively involved in the vision, development and management of this business since day one," said Skip Paul, IFILM's chairman of the board. "It speaks volumes of IFILM's potential that he has agreed to join the company full-time as my partner." Wendle and Sylvester join the company directly from The Cottage Group, LLC, an investment organization founded by Wendle in 1999 to invest in fledgling Internet companies. The pair will continue to advise The Cottage Group, LLC, but will take on full-time duties for IFILM. Wendle was one of the six founding members of the team behind the creation and launch of the Fox Broadcasting Company. As executive vice president, he led the development of the network's initial programming including The Simpsons, Married ... With Children, Beverly Hills 90210, America's Most Wanted, Cops, In Living Color and 21 Jump Street. Wendle was one of the earliest prominent entertainment figures to hop on the on-line bandwagon when he became a co-founder of CNET and a co-founder of E! On-line. Sylvester created and managed the New Business Development and Corporate Planning departments at E! before being named general manager of E! On-line. He structured the initial E! On-line joint venture with CNET, negotiated a later buyout of CNET's interests, and created a long-term strategic partnership with CNET. Sylvester helped build E!'s sister network, Style, E! Latin America, E! Spain (Estilo) and E! Poland. Prior to E! On-line, Sylvester worked at New Line Cinema in Los Angeles where he oversaw all west coast business development activities. At the Sundance Channel as executive vice president of programming and creative director, Harbeck puppeteered all programming strategies and acquisitions for the television network. Prior to the Sundance Channel, Harbeck served as the senior vice president of marketing and on air promotion/creative director for Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite/TV Land. While at Nickelodeon, Harbeck set the creative tone and strategic course for Nickelodeon and its creative brands. While there he directed all marketing activities and creative design for the network. Under his leadership, Nickelodeon was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame. Since November 1999, IFILM has raised US$35 million from Sony, Eastman Kodak, Paul Allen's Vulcan Ventures, Shamrock Capital Advisors and Liberty Digital. In addition, the company has attracted other heavy-weight advisors and investors such as: GeoCities founder David Bohnett, ICM Chairman Jeff Berg, UTA Chairman Jim Berkus, Warner Bros. CEO Bob Daly, producer Lauren Schuler-Donner, writer Nora Ephron, former Warner Bros. Co-President Bill Gerber, producer Quincy Jones, producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, director Richard Donner, Brillstein-Grey CEO Brad Grey, VH1 President John Sykes, entertainment attorney Alan Hergott and LA Avengers owner Casey Wasserman.

CINAR Co-Founders Exit With $122M Missing. In the continuing crisis at CINAR Corp., husband and wife co-founders, Micheline Charest and Ronald Weinberg, have stepped down after senior VP and CFO Hasanain Panju was fired when US$122 million was found to have disappeared into investments without board approval. With tax fraud allegations floating in the skies, Charest will leave her chairman and co-CEO seat, while Weinberg will give up his president and co-CEO position. The couple will remain as leaders and directors of the company. CINAR, however, producers of such wholesome kid fare as Arthur and The Busy World Of Richard Scary, isnít letting the seats get cold. On Monday, March 6, 2000, Lawrence Yelin, a senior partner of the national law firm of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin and a long-standing member of the Board of Directors of the company, was appointed as chairman of the board of directors. Barrie Usher has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the company and a member of its board of directors. Prior to joining CINAR, Usher served as a senior VP of Manulife Financial Corporation and as president and CEO of New York Life Insurance Company of Canada. Reportedly $86 million of the $122 million had been pledged to secure other investments. CINAR has launch an in house investigation into the whereabouts of the missing money to determine its legal position and hopefully re-obtain possession of the funds.