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Thank you, Sydney Levine

The Weinstein Co. hired David Glasser from Yari Film Group as President of International Distribution. He replaced Glen Basner who is going to launch an independent sales company before the American Film Market this fall.

GK Films hired Lisa Wilson from Hyde Park as President of International Distribution. She replaced Eric Christenson.

CFO Howard Kaplan and Senior Vice President of International Sales Liz Mackiewicz recently left Morgan Creek.

Regent Worldwide hired Liz Mackiewicz as Co President together with Adam Wright. She replaced Meggan Kimberley, who will continue as consultant.

Ariel Veneziano left Icon Entertainment International and is working for Myriad Pictures for the next few months as a sales consultant.

Mandate Pictures hired Matthew Bakal as Chief Financial Officer.

Steward Till from Stadium Entertainment bought Icon Entertainment. Till will become president of Icon and the company will continue use Icon name in the distribution markets and as a sales banner. Mark Gooder will continue to oversee the existing Icon operations, reporting to Till. Till's Icon has a three year deal for films produced by Gibson and Davey's label to go through his distribution and sales machine.

Universal Pictures has hired Franklin Leonard as Director of Development.

Paramount Pictures has officially announced a branded name, concrete production and release plans, for its new division Paramount Famous Productions. President Louis Feola heads the new unit which will look to exploit Paramount's library of high profile theatrical features with direct to video sequels, prequels and spinoffs.

Pamela Fielder has launched the new shingle Princess Pictures. The Tribeca Film Center housed production company will be headed by Fielder as President, while Amy Dean Kennedy will serve as the senior VP of Development and Production. Princess plans to develop a slate of sophisticated and uplifting romantic comedies and dramas, with a touch of satire, aimed at an upscale audience. Most of the films will be budgeted in the $5 million to $20 million range. The company also looks to produce most of its films in New York City.

Maverick Films' Mark Morgan is parting ways with Guy Oseary. He is relaunching the company under the new name Imprint Entertainment. Morgan has acquired sole ownership of the company’s current projects and development. Oseary, however, has retained rights to the Maverick name. As part of the change, Morgan has brought in Michael Becker as a partner in Imprint.

M. Night Shyamalan and Media Rights Capital have formed a financing/production partnership called Night Chronicles. The purpose of the venture is to produce one thriller per year for three years. Shyamalan will produce but not direct the projects. He will create the stories and ideas for the films and pick the writers and directors, while MRC will finance the productions.

After Glen Basner leaving The Weinstein Co., Michael Rothstein was promoted to Executive Vice President International Sales and Distribution and Jonathan Kier to Senior Vice President International Sales and Distribution.

CBS Films hired Steven Friedlander as Executive Vice President of Theatrical Distribution.

New Zealand Film Commission CEO Ruth Harley has been handed the reins of Screen Australia. She will direct the new company formed on July by the merger of the Film Finance Corporation, the Australian Film Commission and agency Film Australia for five years.

Megan Colligan and Josh Greenstein will be taking over Gerry Rich’s duties after he left Paramount Vantage. They will keep their titles as Co Presidents of Marketing.

Intel is combining computer animation and social networking to produce an original animated short film. The Mass Animation project will be produced and directed by Yair Landau, former vice chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Pictures Digital.

Richard Pena, the program director of the Film Society of New York’s Lincoln Center, will receive the Korean Award at the Pusan Film Festival for his work in introducing Korean films to the global film industry. Also, Gulnara Sarsenova will get the Asian filmmaker of the year honor.

Harry Sloan signed a three year deal with Metro Goldwyn Mayer to keep his position as Chairman and CEO.

Newport International Film Festival hired Jennifer Maizel as Executive Director.

Torsten Koch and Oliver Koppert have been appointed Managing Directors of Constantin Film’s theatrical distribution arm Constantin Film Verleih starting this October 1st.

New Wave Entertainment promoted Rick Nowak to COO, Alan Duke to Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and Greg Woertz to Executive Vice President and CFO.

Pathe UK hired Louis Tisne as Director of International Production, and Michael Cowen as Director of Development.

Telepool promoted Thomas Sierk as Deputy Head of Acquisitions and Sales for German speaking territories.

Universal Pictures promoted Matt Apice to Vice President of Digital Production, and Kori Bernards to Senior Vice President of Media Relations.

Lara Thompson left her position as Senior Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions at 'Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group' to join Canadian film and TV Company 'Entertainment One' in the same capacity.

Paramount Pictures International Ireland hired Niamh McCaul as General Manager.

The Weinstein Company hired Jeff Maynard as Senior Vice President of Postproduction.

Veronika Morawetz will temporally serve as consultant at Kinowelt Filmverleih after Georg Miros, Head of Marketing and Sales, left the company.

New Line Cinema promoted Craig Alexander and Judd Funk to Co Heads of Business and Legal Affairs.

Universal Pictures hired Tracy Falco as Executive Vice President of Production.

Lionsgate promoted Jason Constantine to President of Acquisitions and Co productions.

Yoko Higuchi Zitzmann will join Telepool as Head of Acquisitions and Sales for German Speaking territories. She will take the position on January 2009 after leaving Constantin Film.

Unique Pictures hired New Line production executive Mark Kaufman as well as Jonna Smith, Alexandra Loewy, Leah Holzer, and Christina Delgado.

New Wave Entertainment promoted Andrea DeLesDernier to Director of Communications.

GK Films hired Bahman Naraghi as COO.

Barbara Broccoli, producer of 'Quantum of Solace', has joined the board of the U.K. Film Counsil.

Ron Gell’s G-Machine is partnering with sales company New Films International. Gell will become Chief Content Officer of New Films, handling worldwide acquisitions for owner Nesim Hason while remaining president and CEO of his own company.

Unique Pictures hired Dylan Sellers as Senior Production Executive.

David DeCoteau’s Rapid Heart Pictures has a two year deal with Regent to direct ten films and two television series making gay versions of several classic horror tales.

Gore Verbinski's Blind Wink Productions has a three year deal with Universal.

Former Director of Distribution, Dylan Marchetti, created Variance Films, which seeks to provide a middle ground between traditional distribution and the self distribution route.

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment promoted Bingham Ray to President of Creative Affairs.

Wind Dancer Films hired Judd Payne as Head of Production.

Mirage Enterprises development executive Franklin Leonard has joined Universal Pictures as Director of Development.

20th Century Fox hired Julie Rieger as Executive Vice President of Marketing Planning, and promoted Rita Drucker to Senior Vice President of Feature Film Promotions.

Warner Bros. promoted Wendy Aylsworth as Senior Vice President of Technical Technology.

Waterfall Films made a distribution deal with Starz Entertainment.

The Tribeca Film Festival has announced dates for the 2009 edition, to be held from April 22nd to May 3rd. Submissions for the eighth annual festival will open on September 15th. The early deadline is November 14th, with the official deadline on December 15th. Late entries still shooting or in postproduction after that date will be accepted until January 12th.

To know the filmmakers who make the film festival winners, Academy Award submissions for Best Foreign Language Oscars, etc., look to ACE in France. This year in Locarno they are represented by ‘Story of Jen’, ‘Kisses’, ‘Dioses’, ‘Katia’s Sisters’, ‘Nulle Part Terre Promise’. For more information on the producers whose titles are those ‘Tipped for Academy Awards, Venice, Toronto, etc.’ ask Filmfinders.

While there is not one domestic title among the eleven new releases hitting French screens this Wednesday, Pierre Grise Distribution are taking advantage of this summer lull to introduce French audiences to three debut features from Germany, Belgium and the UK. These include Pia Marais’ “The Unpolished,” Guillaume Malandrin’s “I Don’t Care if Tomorrow Never Comes,” and Josh Appignanesi's “Song of Songs.” These three films are on the line up for the European Filmmakers’ Tour de France, an initiative launched at the latest Cannes Film Festival and initiated by the Europa Cinemas network as part of the Season of European Culture organized to mark the French Presidency of the EU Council.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer hired Pam Silverstein as director of development for their worldwide motion picture group. Silverstein will contribute to the acquisition, development and production of new material for MGM's slate of films.

Rick Nicita left Creative Artists Agency after forty years of career as a talent agent to become Co Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Creek Productions.

Paramount Pictures hired Sony Pictures Releasing’s Marketing Chief in Germany, Sven Sturm, as General Manager of Paramount Pictures Germany.

Tyler Perry has a three year first look deal with Lionsgate.

M. Night Shyamalan and Media Rights Capital have formed a financing production partnership called Night Chronicles. The purpose of the venture is to produce one thriller per year for three years. Shyamalan will produce but not direct the projects. He will create the stories and ideas for the films and pick the writers and directors, while Media Rights Capital will finance the productions.

Overture Films has signed a two year first look deal with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Emily Ziff's Cooper's Town Productions. Cooper's Town will remain in separate offices in New York but the company will work closely on project development with Overture Executive Vice President Robert Kessel.

Lionsgate promoted Jason Constantine to president of Acquisitions and Co Productions.

Dennis Rice resigned as President of Marketing and Publicity at United Artists, and the studio hired Michael Vollman as MGM’s Executive Vice President and President of Marketing for United Artists.

Universal promoted producer Tracy Falco to Executive Vice President of Production.

Kinowelt Group hired Jan Pelgrom de Haas to CEO.

Metrodome Group promoted Sarah Frain to General Manager of Distribution.

Director Beeban Kidron joined the UK Film Council’s board of directors.

Bunim Murray Productions hired Neil McCarthy as CFO, David Berson as Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs, Eric Cristall as vice president of development, John Greco as Executive in charge of Production, and Kesila Childers as Manager of New Media. Also, Jeff Jenkins was promoted to Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Programming, and Scott Freeman to Executive Vice President of Development and Programming.

The Weinstein Company hired Jeff Maynard as Senior Vice President of Postproduction.

Sony Pictures promoted Tommy Gargotta to President of Worldwide Creative Advertising.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer hired Pam Silverstein as Director of Development.

New Line Cinema promoted Craig Alexander as Co Head of Business and Legal Affairs.

Vin Di Bona is ramping up his graphic novel plans, forming Invisible Hand Studios and inking a deal with Devil's Due Publishing to launch the first properties. They will develop titles that could be developed into features or TV shows.

Paramount Pictures created Paramount Worldwide Acquisitions Group, a centralized acquisitions and local productions arm that will service the operations of Paramount Pictures and Paramount Vantage. Matt Brodlie, Vantage’s senior Vice President of Production and Acquisitions, will lead the newly formed group under executive Vice President of Production and Acquisition Guy Stodel.

Actress Tilda Swinton is planning for the Ballerina Ballroom Cinema of Dreams, an unusual film festival to be held in Nairm, Scotland from August 15th to the 23rd. She will run it with producer and ex Edinburgh International Film Festival boss Mark Cousins. The programmers include filmmaker Joel Coen.

Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne created Unique Pictures signing a three year first look deal with Warner Bros.

Reliance Big Entertainment announced a joint venture with India based company the Bachchans. The join covers the production of films, TV series, reality shows, internet and mobile content. Also, Anil Ambani's BIG Pictures, a division of Reliance Entertainment signed a deal with Vashu Bhagnani's Puja films for a five picture slate to be completed over the next two years.

Japanese distributor Toho Towa extended their contract with Universal Pictures until 2010.

The new NatFilm Festival and the Copenhagen Film Festival will run for the first time in Copenhagen from April 16th to the 26th, 2009. Screen International’s Jacob Neiiendam will be the Festival Director for both film festivals and Niels Lind Larsen will be Head of Programming.

IFP will move the 18th Annual Gotham Awards to Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

Netflix closed their division Red Envelope Entertainment, which purchased all rights to indie films.

Paramount Pictures created Paramount Worldwide Acquisitions Group, a centralized acquisitions and local productions arm that will service the operations of Paramount Pictures International and Paramount Vantage.

Metro Goldwyn Mayer hired Dan Kolsrud as executive vice president of worldwide theatrical physical production.

Contender Films hired Theresa Roberts as head of publicity and Rebecca Mortimer as head of marketing.

John Hadity has succeeded David Picker as chair of the Producers Guild of America East’s executive board.

Karel De Vries has been appointed managing director of Universal Pictures International’s Dutch operation. He will replace Max Van Praag.

Anchor Bay Entertainment promoted Ray Gagnon to executive vice president worldwide sales and Brian Daley to senior vice president worldwide business operations.

Rainbow Media has promoted Evan Shapiro to president of the cable networks IFC and the Sundance Channel. Laura Michalchyshyn was promoted to executive vice president general manager of Sundance Channel and Jennifer Caserta to executive vice president general manager of IFC.

Tribeca Productions promoted Meghan Lyvers to vice president of production and Brandon Brito to vice president of development.

Peace Arch Entertainment hired Gerry Noble as its CEO based in Toronto.

Universal Pictures promoted Julie Berk as senior vice president of creative services.

New Wave Entertainment promoted Anna Babbitt as talent manager.

Eric Lagesse has taken majority stake in Pyramide Films and will become its president. Fabienne Vonier, who owns the entirety of production company Pyramide Productions, will also maintain a minority share in Pyramide Films.

Universal Pictures extended the deal with Marc Platt Productions for five more years until late 2012.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment hired Anders Kloster to head its U.K. activities and shore up business levels for the unit.

Alcon Entertainment hired Richard Ingber as president of worldwide marketing. Alcon Entertainment has a distribution deal with Warner Bros.

Universal Pictures promoted Stan Scoggins to senior vice president of worldwide digital asset management.

Intrepid Pictures hired Trina Wyatt as COO and CFO, and Anil Kurian to vice president of development.

Echo Bridge Entertainment is launching a digital distribution arm and has hired Kyle Kacznarek to run it.

Gian Luigi Rondi has become the president of the Rome Film Festival.

Tartan Films is out of business and its catalog of 400 plus films has been acquired by Palisades Media Corporation. and to the Frankfurt Book Fair officials for whom she also leads a workshop.