Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Apr 9, 2016 23:48:08 GMT -6
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/daniel-battsek-exiting-cohen-media-882032
Daniel Battsek Exiting Cohen Media Group to Be New Boss at Film4
Battsek replaces David Kosse, who left the production arm of British network Channel 4 to run the new international arm of STX Entertainment.
Daniel Battsek, currently president of Cohen Media Group, is moving to Film4 to take over from exiting director David Kosse, Film4 parent Channel 4 has confirmed.
Kosse's exit from Film4 was confirmed last week when STX Entertainment announced he would take over as president of STX International, the new global arm of the powerhouse indie financing and distribution outfit.
Battsek, who was widely tipped to be Kosse's successor, will take over in July after fulfilling his contract with distributor Cohen Media Group, where he has overseen the acquisition and release of foreign-language Oscar nominees Timbuktu and Mustang as well as developing a slate of films, including the upcoming adaptation of John Williams' cult novel Stoner, which CMG and Blumhouse are producing together with Film4.
Battsek will relocate to London from New York for the Film4 job. Kosse will continue to work with Film4 on a consultancy basis until October to ensure a smooth transition. The British production banner is one of the most highly-respected in the business and is coming off a record awards season in which it received 15 Academy Award nominations and wins for Room, Ex-Machina and Amy. Channel 4 recently increased the budget for its film production arm to $36 million.
Battsek brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of the indie film business to Film4, as a former president of Miramax Films and National Geographic Films and ex-senior vice president of Buena Vista International in the U.K. As president at Miramax, where he took over after founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein left the company, he acquired or greenlit such features as Oscar-winners No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood and The Queen.
He took over as president of Cohen Media Group in 2012, expanding the US distributor's slate with an emphasis on European art house features.
Under Kosse, Film4 signed new partnerships with production companies to take greater financial stakes in certain projects. It is backing Fox Searchlight's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh and has a two-year production and financing with Fudge Park Films, the London-based single set up by Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, the creative duo behind hit British comedy show The Inbetweeners.
Battsek will inherit several completed films on Film4's impressive slate including Ang Lee's upcoming Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Andrea Arnold's American Honey and Ben Wheatley's High-Rise. The company's development slate includes upcoming projects from Steve McQueen and Mike Leigh, The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos and 45 Years helmer Andrew Haigh.
Correction: an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the title to Martin McDonagh's new film. The Hollywood Reporter regrets the error.
Daniel Battsek Exiting Cohen Media Group to Be New Boss at Film4
Battsek replaces David Kosse, who left the production arm of British network Channel 4 to run the new international arm of STX Entertainment.
Daniel Battsek, currently president of Cohen Media Group, is moving to Film4 to take over from exiting director David Kosse, Film4 parent Channel 4 has confirmed.
Kosse's exit from Film4 was confirmed last week when STX Entertainment announced he would take over as president of STX International, the new global arm of the powerhouse indie financing and distribution outfit.
Battsek, who was widely tipped to be Kosse's successor, will take over in July after fulfilling his contract with distributor Cohen Media Group, where he has overseen the acquisition and release of foreign-language Oscar nominees Timbuktu and Mustang as well as developing a slate of films, including the upcoming adaptation of John Williams' cult novel Stoner, which CMG and Blumhouse are producing together with Film4.
Battsek will relocate to London from New York for the Film4 job. Kosse will continue to work with Film4 on a consultancy basis until October to ensure a smooth transition. The British production banner is one of the most highly-respected in the business and is coming off a record awards season in which it received 15 Academy Award nominations and wins for Room, Ex-Machina and Amy. Channel 4 recently increased the budget for its film production arm to $36 million.
Battsek brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of the indie film business to Film4, as a former president of Miramax Films and National Geographic Films and ex-senior vice president of Buena Vista International in the U.K. As president at Miramax, where he took over after founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein left the company, he acquired or greenlit such features as Oscar-winners No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood and The Queen.
He took over as president of Cohen Media Group in 2012, expanding the US distributor's slate with an emphasis on European art house features.
Under Kosse, Film4 signed new partnerships with production companies to take greater financial stakes in certain projects. It is backing Fox Searchlight's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh and has a two-year production and financing with Fudge Park Films, the London-based single set up by Iain Morris and Damon Beesley, the creative duo behind hit British comedy show The Inbetweeners.
Battsek will inherit several completed films on Film4's impressive slate including Ang Lee's upcoming Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Andrea Arnold's American Honey and Ben Wheatley's High-Rise. The company's development slate includes upcoming projects from Steve McQueen and Mike Leigh, The Lobster director Yorgos Lanthimos and 45 Years helmer Andrew Haigh.
Correction: an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the title to Martin McDonagh's new film. The Hollywood Reporter regrets the error.