Elspeth Tavares dies: the former founder and editor of Business Of Film was 71 years old

Former trade editor and journalist Elspeth Tavares died peacefully at her London home after a brief illness.

Tavares was the founder, publisher and chief editor of The Business of Film, an independent commercial publication of the film industry, founded in 1980.

Trained in London, he began his editorial career at The Observer newspaper in London, where he learned the business of printing and advertising sales. His success with the prestigious national newspaper led him to an appointment with the British film newspaper Screen International, where he rose to the position of CEO, restructuring the company and turning it into a profitable business.

Tavares’ experience in consumer, commercial and national newspaper publishing, coupled with his experience in the international film industry, led to the creation of The Business of Film with offices in London and Los Angeles. He was proud of the introduction of new technologies and the publication was the first international newspaper in the sector to move to fully electronic delivery and to introduce online interactivity between advertisers and readers.

With his own publication, he was at the forefront of nurturing new young talent and during its first decade The Business of Film organized a journalism internship program for Oxford and Cambridge graduates to ground them in the rigors of international cinema. business.

Tavares was also the founder of The Women’s International Film and Television Showcase (The WIFTS), a foundation that sought to create a new direction for recognizing outstanding women who emphasized individuality across the board and brought them together in the cinema art form. and television. . The annual awards ceremony was held in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2019.

Tavares was a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and a founding member of Women in Film, London. His son and grandson survive.