Jon Fitzgerald - Founder & CEO
Jon has twenty-five years of experience in the independent film, internet and film festival communities, a rare leader with a unique combination of skills. As a filmmaker, he has produced a number of award winning documentaries; and as a consultant, he has guided many independent film projects through the maze of festivals and hybrid distribution models.
As a co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival (1995), he led the event the next two seasons before being named the Festival Director for the prestigious AFI Film Festival in 1997. After running AFI Fest for three years (1997-1999), he created a consulting business, guiding the launch of numerous film festivals (Bahamas, Lone Star, Orlando), directing several others (Santa Barbara, Topanga and Naples), and consulting to dozens more.
In October of 2012, Jon authored his first book, entitled Filmmaking for Change: Make Films That Transform the World, published by industry leader Michael Wiese Productions.
Recognizing that film is more than just entertainment, it is a tool to engage and inspire audiences to take action, Founder Jon Fitzgerald created Cause Pictures as a new paradigm to help create change. The Company combines Jon’s years of filmmaking, festival and consulting experience, providing services to film festivals and supporting independent filmmakers looking to produce, market and distribute their films to a growing audience yearning for socially relevant stories.
In 2019, Jon launched iGEMS.tv as an internet Guide to Engaging Movies & Series.
Jon has twenty-five years of experience in the independent film, internet and film festival communities, a rare leader with a unique combination of skills. As a filmmaker, he has produced a number of award winning documentaries; and as a consultant, he has guided many independent film projects through the maze of festivals and hybrid distribution models.
As a co-founder of the Slamdance Film Festival (1995), he led the event the next two seasons before being named the Festival Director for the prestigious AFI Film Festival in 1997. After running AFI Fest for three years (1997-1999), he created a consulting business, guiding the launch of numerous film festivals (Bahamas, Lone Star, Orlando), directing several others (Santa Barbara, Topanga and Naples), and consulting to dozens more.
In October of 2012, Jon authored his first book, entitled Filmmaking for Change: Make Films That Transform the World, published by industry leader Michael Wiese Productions.
Recognizing that film is more than just entertainment, it is a tool to engage and inspire audiences to take action, Founder Jon Fitzgerald created Cause Pictures as a new paradigm to help create change. The Company combines Jon’s years of filmmaking, festival and consulting experience, providing services to film festivals and supporting independent filmmakers looking to produce, market and distribute their films to a growing audience yearning for socially relevant stories.
In 2019, Jon launched iGEMS.tv as an internet Guide to Engaging Movies & Series.