Craig Parks, Vice President, Digital Media, IFC

As vice president of digital media for IFC (The Independent Film Channel), Craig Parks is responsible for the oversight and strategic direction of the networks’ alternative platforms including IFC.com and IFC syndicated digital content, as well as the development and production of IFC Media Lab, the network’s incubator for aspiring filmmakers. Mr. Parks was named to this post in July 2008.

Mr. Parks is spearheading an aggressive original web series slate for IFC.com. Among the series launched this year include: Lunchbox, a daily show that highlights the latest content on IFC.com in film, music, politics and beyond; Get Hit, a step-by-step guide on how to achieve guaranteed viral internet success…or nearly die trying; and two series with filmmaker Joe Swanberg - Young American Bodies, a candid, no-holds-barred look at the intersecting love lives of six 20-somethings in Chicago, and The Stagg Party, a documentary web series about Ellen Stagg, a professional photographer in Brooklyn, New York, whose love of photography extends from commercial jobs to more personal erotic work.

Previously, Mr. Parks was vice president of branded entertainment and business development and oversaw he 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, Mr. Parks served for three years as executive producer and creative director of specials projects in the on-air and promotions department of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC, the parent company of IFC. In this role, he serviced Rainbow Media corporate and many of its businesses, including IFC, WE tv and VOOM HD Networks. Mr. 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. Mr. Parks also developed and produced for SPORTSKOOL, then Rainbow-owned, its first sponsor integrated campaign with Jeep®, and award-winning PSAs for WE tv’s public affairs initiative, featuring celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Nia Vardalos.

Before joining Rainbow Media, Mr. 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, Mr. Parks held positions at MTV, VH-1 and freelance work as a producer.

Mr. 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.