Dubbed “The Black Sundance,” the Hollywood Black Film Festival (HBFF) is an annual 4-day celebration of Black Cinema drawing together established filmmakers, popular film and TV stars, writers, directors, industry executives, emerging artists, and diverse audiences from Southern California and around the world. HBFF’s INFOTAINMENT CONFERENCE features a wealth of informational panels and workshops covering a wide variety of topics which include: film production, distribution and marketing, pitching, writing for television and film, in addition to specific programs designed to inform and educate actors.
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Robert Mendez was named Senior Vice President, Diversity, Disney │ ABC Television Group (DATG) in November 2005.In his role, Mendez is responsible for advancing diversity strategies for the various properties within DATG, including the ABC Television Network, ABC Studios, Disney Channel Worldwide, SOAPnet, Toon Disney, Disney XD, ABC Family and Walt Disney Television Animation, among others.
He also serves as DATG’s key liaison on diversity matters with government officials, the creative community, advocacy groups and others.
Long committed to employment diversity in the television industry and other business sectors, Mendez is a past president of the Hispanic National Bar Association and served on the boards of The Imagen Foundation, the International Radio & Television Society Foundation, and is a member of the Los Angeles County Fair Association.
Prior to his current position, Mendez was Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs for Buena Vista Television, the television syndication division of The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) that distributes Live with Regis and Kelly and manages the production and/or distribution of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, and Ebert & Roeper, among other programs.
Earlier in his career, Mendez spent 15 years with Paramount Pictures Domestic Television, where he rose to the position of Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, and was responsible for contract negotiation for series ranging from Entertainment Tonight to Dr. Phil.A native of California, Mendez received his Juris Doctorate from the University of California Davis School of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts in English and Natural History from Pomona College. He is a member of the California State Bar.
