Craig Parks
Vice President, Digital Media IFC
As vice president of digital media for IFC, Craig Parks leads the strategy for all digital media implementations and alternative content creation for the network that embodies IFC’s indie perspective and delivers on its brand promise, “Always On. Slightly Off.” Parks deepens IFC’s relationship with its audience and extends the network’s authority as the source for all things indie by activating content across advanced media platforms. He oversees live streaming content, short- and long-form branded entertainment, interactive microsites, mini-specials and series for on-air and IFC.com, as well as mobile, social media and syndicated content outlets, all of which contribute to IFC’s business growth. Parks was named to the post in July 2008.
Parks has transformed IFC.com into a revenue-generating online indie hub with robust original content. One of the site’s most significant content offerings is IFC News, an indie culture magazine featuring editorials and video. In addition, IFC.com brings its audience content from live events, such as coverage of the Film Independent Spirit Awards and the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival. For the past two years, the site featured 10 days of wall to wall coverage of SXSW, including live streaming video and blogging from the studio at the IFC Crossroads House. IFC.com continues to grow its content through partnerships with content aggregators and distributors such as Facebook Live, Livestream, The Bowery Presents, Pitchfork, and more. IFC.com has produced and exhibited 12 web series, including Young American Bodies from filmmaker Joe Swanberg. Under Parks’ direction, IFC.com also serves as a conduit to connect the influential IFC community to popular social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and foursquare, which features the “The IFC Always On, Slightly Off Guide to America.”
IFC’s branded entertainment content is delivered across multiple platforms in support of IFC originals. Parks has led the development of multi-platform branded entertainment productions for partners such as AT& T, Bombay Sapphire, Levis, Porsche and Scion, among others.
Previously, Parks was vice president of branded entertainment and business development for IFC and oversaw the development and production of IFC’s sponsorship and branded entertainment content. Some of the key projects he spearheaded included the Red Bull After Hours Web Series Challenge, a search for the next great web series director, and Absolut Indies, a weekly film strand presented by Absolut Vodka featuring a branded user-generated film-making experience.
Prior to joining IFC in 2007, Parks served for three years as executive producer and creative director of specials projects in the On-Air and Promotions department of Rainbow Media, the parent company of IFC. In this role, he serviced Rainbow corporate and many of its businesses, including IFC, WE tv, and Rainbow’s VOD and HD services. Parks oversaw a team that was responsible for the creation of branding and launch campaigns, co-branded packaging and short form entertainment, sales tapes, wraps, graphics packages and other marketing initiatives. During this time, he was instrumental in developing the sponsorship and branded entertainment model that IFC uses today.
Before joining Rainbow, Parks was an executive producer for ABC Family from 2002-2004 and oversaw the creation and execution of integrated marketing and co-branded content for ABC Family’s marketing and on-air promotions departments. He was also responsible for branding and served as a key contributor to the channel’s re-brand in 2003. While at ABC Family, he also developed and produced original content for Sears tied to the network’s Friday night movie wraps. Earlier in his career, Parks held positions at MTV, VH-1 and freelance work as a producer.
Parks earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies at the University of Florida and did his graduate work in film studies from the University of Texas. He is an alumnus of CTAM’s executive management program, CTAM U, at Harvard Business School. Parks was named to CableFAX’s Digital Hot List Class of 2009 and The Hollywood Reporter’s Digital Power 50 list in the Brand Builder category. In the 2009 Webby Awards, IFC.com won the People’s Voice Award the best movie and film website.
