WHO IS ERIK DE WINTER?

1. What is your function? Not just your title, but what do you do?
I'm responsible for the sale of formats at Absolutely in a part of the world, but also scout different markets for new formats for the company to represent. The territories I'm responsible for are the USA, Canada, Latin America, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal and the Netherlands.

2. How long have you been with Absolutely Independent?
Since March 1, 2007. I'm the new kid on the block, but as Absolutely is expanding, I expect someone else will be that soon...

3. What did you do previously?
I licensed independent films to Dutch and Belgian TV channels, pay TV channels and new media parties. And I closely followed the developments in the area of new media, and looked for new exploitation possibilities.

4. What did you study, if anything?
Film and Television sciences at the University of Amsterdam. I specialized in new media. During the course of my study, I was especially interested in the shifting of media consumption and the changes in copyright law. My thesis focused on the thin line between protecting creative work and leaving ways open for creators in their creative process. I used the copyright developments around the peer2peer network Kazaa as a study case.

5. What do you do in your spare time?
I cycle on the long roads her in Holland. And sail on the lakes around my home. Mountain biking is something I do in the hills of Flanders, around Houffalize. I tend to spend my more relaxed time at concerts, ranging from jazz to rock concerts and the occasional classical concert. My favourite rock venue is Paradiso in Amsterdam.

6. What (or who) is your passion in life?
Visual spectacle in whatever form. From photographs to panoramic views, from television programs to close-ups of everyday images we tend to overlook. The unexpected in the common, but also the extreme...

7. What do you like best about your job at Absolutely Independent?
That the responsibilities and tasks are diverse. And the company's out-of-the-box mentality.