Michael A. Helfant

Michael Helfant represents a wide range of clients in all aspects of film and television development, production, financing and distribution. He brings to his practice more than three decades of hands-on experience as a senior executive in the entertainment industry.

Michael has held executive level positions at some of the leading film production and distribution companies. Before forming his own production company, Amasia Entertainment, Michael served as President/COO of Marvel Studios, where he oversaw the studio’s live action and animation production, financing and distribution operations as well as its global distribution arrangements with Paramount. As COO of Beacon Pictures, he was responsible for Beacon’s revolving credit facility and its integrated distribution arrangements with Disney, Warner Bros. and Summit Entertainment. As Senior EVP for Dimension Films, he managed all of the company’s business operations, including oversight of the Scream, Spy Kids and Scary Movie franchises. During his tenure as EVP and Head of Business Operations for Interscope Communications, he orchestrated the sale of the company to PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, and managed Interscope’s film financing joint ventures with Disney and Nomura Babcock & Brown.

Michael is a board member of Film Independent, a leading nonprofit organization that supports independent film and filmmakers. Additionally, he’s a member of the UCLA Entertainment Symposium Advisory Committee.