Afman, the executive credited with revolutionising independent film financing during his time as an executive at Credit Lyonnais Bank in Holland in the 1980s, has died after a long illness. He was 77.

Alongside the late Dino De Laurentiis, Afman was instrumental in pioneering the financing of films through the discounting of distribution contracts. In the 1970s, Afman was involved in the financing of such high-profile movies as Three Days Of The Condor, King Kong and Superman.

Later on, Afman went on to work with such outfits as the Cannon Group, Hemdale Film Corporation, Carolco Pictures, Castle Rock and Morgan Creek. Films he was involved with in the 1980s included Terminator, Rambo, Platoon, When Harry Met Sally and Room With A View.

In the early 1990s, Afman joined International Creative Management in Los Angeles as managing director of the newly formed financial services department. In April 1993 he became an independent financial consultant.

Afman remained active right until his death, acting as consultant to several Dutch producers and he also advised exhibitors in the Netherlands.

“He (Afman) had a long life in financing. He was not only a banker. He was also a friend to the producers – very unlike bankers in general,” commented Ria A Jankie, who worked alongside Afman at the Dutch branch of Credit Lyonnias during the 1980s and many years after that.

In spite of his illness, Afman had hoped to attend this year’s Cannes Festival. “That’s the bottom line of the whole story about Frans,” Jankie said. “He loved this business so much and he really thought that he would go to Cannes this year although everybody knew he would never make it. He was living for the business.”

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