Master of Ceremonies Ric Birch Joins Filmmaster Events

MILAN, November 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Filmmaster Group's event management subsidiary takes Olympics ceremonies and live productions guru Ric Birch on board.

Filmmaster Group is the Producer of Rio 2016 Olympic Ceremonies.

Filmmaster Group announces today the appointment of Australian event producer Ric Birch to the role of Executive Producer at Filmmaster Events, the group's subsidiary that specialises in event management. Recognised as the most prominent creator of Olympic Games ceremonies worldwide, Birch had partnered with Filmmaster Group in 2006 to produce the opening and closing ceremonies of the Torino Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games and is now back on board to lead development of the company's international show business projects.

Regarded as the 'Master of Ceremonies' worldwide, Ric Birch has produced many of the largest live events ever mounted. He was the creator of the 2000 Sydney Olympic opening ceremonies that were hailed as establishing new standards for creativity, performance and technical production. Among recent projects, Birch was the International Artistic Advisor for the opening & closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Executive Producer of Ceremonies for the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games and Executive Producer of celebrations and ceremonies for Mexico's Bicentennial in 2010. He has been based in China for the last two years working with the Shanghai City Entertainment Group. Birch's extensive expertise also includes television production, permanent shows, and the creation and development of live productions for theme parks.

Ric Birch joins Filmmaster Events in which Alfredo Accatino is already a partner and Creative Director. Many Italian and International events bear his signature and he is one of the best known Italian Creative Directors. Accatino has been the author of many television shows and big events and played a key role in the Turin 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Ceremonies. He is the author of many publications and promoter of a vast number of projects engaged in empowering and protecting creativity as well as author's rights.

Filmmaster Group's partners have also announced their decision to further develop the plans first revealed in 2010 after Italian Entertainment Group joined as one of the company's shareholders. IEG is also a shareholder of Cinecittà Studios and of the Cinecittà World Theme Park in Rome. It has been announced that Filmmaster Events will expand its role in the international entertainment industry, including theme park development and creation of permanent shows as well as cultural displays and museum exhibitions.

Marco Balich, will continue to liaise with Filmmaster Group for the production of the ceremonies for Rio's 2016 Olympic Games, which are being produced by Filmmaster Group through a new company - CC2016.  CC2016 was founded by Filmmaster Group in partnership with Brazilian company SR.COM and in 2011, the Rio Olympic Organizing Committee awarded CC2016 the rights to produce and manage opening & closing ceremonies and other major events related to the Rio 2016 Olympic and also the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.