FilmDistrict, producer Graham King's new independent film studio, announced its initial management team on Tuesday.
The new company, which will acquire, distribute, produce and finance between four and eight theatrical films a year, launched at the end of September. It's being headed by marketing and distribution guru Bob Berney, who signed on after he abruptly resigned from Apparition on the eve of the Cannes Film Festival last spring.
"We've assembled a core team of industry pros to move us into the next wave of theatrical marketing and distribution," Berney, president of theatrical distribution, said in a statement announcing the new team, which includes several ex-Apparition employees.
The new team comprises:
Berney's wife Jeanne, who also was at Apparition, will be Executive Vice President, Marketing. She's joined by Senior Vice President, Marketing Kirk Iwanowski, Senior Vice President, Publicity Liz Berger and Director, Field Publicity and Promotions Oleg Dubson.
In distribution: Senior Vice President, Distribution Dan Lange; Senior Vice President, Film Settlement John Lange; Senior Vice President, General Sales Manager Bill Thompson; Director, Distribution Ryan Markowitz, Director, Distribution Operations Nicki Petrone and Director, National Exhibitor Relations Deborah Johnson.
Iwanowski and Thompson also are were with the Berneys at Apparition.
FilmDistrict was started by King, the producer of Oscar-winning hits such as “The Departed” and "Aviator," with his business partners Tim Headington and Peter Schlessel.
It will distribute between four and eight wide-release commercial pictures per year. The first is planned for spring 2011.
