Former Miramax President Daniel Battsek is joining Cohen Media Group as president, the company announced on Wednesday.
Battsek will play a key role in overseeing CMG’s production slate, which includes “Double Cross,” “Operation Mincemeat” and the remake of the French film, “You Will Be My Son.”
He will report to Charles S. Cohen, the group’s chairman and CEO, and work alongside Cohen to oversee the acquisition, production and distribution of CMG titles.
Battsek most recently served as president of National Geographic Films, where he acquired projects for development and production, operated a boutique theatrical domestic distribution arm for arthouse titles and documentaries, such as the Oscar-nominated “Restrepo,” and oversaw large-screen and IMAX projects.
Prior to joining National Geographic, he was president of Miramax Films, where he was instrumental in acquiring, green-lighting and distributing a variety of films, including “Tsotsi,” “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” “The Queen,” “Happy-Go-Lucky,” “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood.”
“Daniel Battsek is a proven force in film production and distribution, and we are fortunate to have him as we prepare for great things in the coming year and beyond,” said Cohen.
“Cohen Media Group has quickly become a leading name in independent film, and I am thrilled to arrive as this exciting company is becoming a true powerhouse,” said Battsek.
Launched in 2008, the company’s upcoming releases in 2013 include, Fernando Trueba’s “The Artist and the Model, starring Jean Rochefort and Claudia Cardinale; Pablo Berger’s “Blancanieves,” starring Maribel Verdu and Angela Molina; Francois Ozon’s “In the House,” with Kristin Scott Thomas; and Rachid Bouchareb’s first American film, “Just Like A Woman,” starring Sienna Miller.
