LOS ANGELES - Hail to Daniel Battsek, the newly named chief of Miramax Films.
Battsek has traded his rather unwieldy title as the executive vice president/managing director of distribution and production for Buena Vista International, to become president of Miramax now that Bob and Harvey Weinstein have effectively divorced The Walt Disney Studios and stepped down from the post, it was announced Monday, July 25.
Battsek's first duties will be to set up a new executive team and build up a slate of new Miramax films. In the meantime, the Weinsteins, who will remain co-chairmen through the end of September, will complete production, marketing and distributing on current Miramax or Dimension films. After that, Battsek will take on his full duties, which include creative, acquisitions, production, distribution, as well as marketing and publicity.
"Daniel's long rich history with The Walt Disney Studios where he has been involved in distribution, marketing, acquisition and production gives him a keen understanding of our goals as we further build upon the prestigious heritage of the Miramax name," says Disney Chairman ________ Cook in a statement.
Adds Battsek, "I am extremely gratified by the confidence ________ and others at the Studio, particularly Mark Zoradi, BVI President, have in me to give me this amazing opportunity. I have enormous respect for everything that Miramax stands for and I hope my life-long passion for the film business will be a great asset to this prestigious label."
In the late 1980s, Battsek helped Palace Pictures with marketing, distribution and acquisitions in the UK and Ireland for films such as "Cinema Paradiso," "The Crying Game" and "When Harry Met Sally. In 1992, he officially joined Disney, where he worked in various positions for theatrical film distribution and acquisitions in the UK and also created the BVI UK Comedy label which has produced "High Heels and Low Lifes," "Hope Springs," "Calendar Girls" and the upcoming "Kinky Boots."
Battsek will move from his UK office to New York. Already in the Miramax pipeline are Ben Affleck's directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone," Scott Marshall's "Lucky 13," "Kinky Boots" and "Hoax."
Battsek has traded his rather unwieldy title as the executive vice president/managing director of distribution and production for Buena Vista International, to become president of Miramax now that Bob and Harvey Weinstein have effectively divorced The Walt Disney Studios and stepped down from the post, it was announced Monday, July 25.
Battsek's first duties will be to set up a new executive team and build up a slate of new Miramax films. In the meantime, the Weinsteins, who will remain co-chairmen through the end of September, will complete production, marketing and distributing on current Miramax or Dimension films. After that, Battsek will take on his full duties, which include creative, acquisitions, production, distribution, as well as marketing and publicity.
"Daniel's long rich history with The Walt Disney Studios where he has been involved in distribution, marketing, acquisition and production gives him a keen understanding of our goals as we further build upon the prestigious heritage of the Miramax name," says Disney Chairman ________ Cook in a statement.
Adds Battsek, "I am extremely gratified by the confidence ________ and others at the Studio, particularly Mark Zoradi, BVI President, have in me to give me this amazing opportunity. I have enormous respect for everything that Miramax stands for and I hope my life-long passion for the film business will be a great asset to this prestigious label."
In the late 1980s, Battsek helped Palace Pictures with marketing, distribution and acquisitions in the UK and Ireland for films such as "Cinema Paradiso," "The Crying Game" and "When Harry Met Sally. In 1992, he officially joined Disney, where he worked in various positions for theatrical film distribution and acquisitions in the UK and also created the BVI UK Comedy label which has produced "High Heels and Low Lifes," "Hope Springs," "Calendar Girls" and the upcoming "Kinky Boots."
Battsek will move from his UK office to New York. Already in the Miramax pipeline are Ben Affleck's directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone," Scott Marshall's "Lucky 13," "Kinky Boots" and "Hoax."