Capitalizing on the company´s leading
international distribution network and parent News Corporation´s
vast global presence, Fox Filmed Entertainment is launching Fox
International Productions (FIP) to produce and acquire local language
films for key global territories. Sanford Panitch, a veteran studio
executive at New Regency and Fox, has been tapped to run the entity
which will serve to organize all of Fox´s
existing and future indigenous productions under one banner.
Panitch, who most recently served as President of Filmed Entertainment
for New Regency (a partnership with News Corporation and Twentieth
Century Fox), will become president of the Los Angeles-based FIP. He
will report to Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairmen and CEOs, Jim
Gianopulos and Tom Rothman, who made the announcement today.
"We have the infrastructure provided by the
world´s most global media company along with
Fox´s unmatched marketing and distribution
operations, and in Sanford, we have a seasoned, successful executive
with whom to entrust this important enterprise," said Gianopulos. "All of these factors "“ as well as our existing relationships and collective experience around
the world "“ position us for great success."
Commented Rothman: "Sanford is a uniquely
gifted and well rounded film executive. In the last years, he has spent
much of his efforts focusing on international talent, and will bring his
inimitable energy, perseverance, and can do attitude to expand our
efforts around the globe."
Fox International Productions will focus its efforts in several key
territories to produce, co-finance, acquire and distribute local
language films. FIP will complement Fox´s
worldwide releases with local language films in key markets, where it
will develop partnerships with local producers and filmmakers and make
strategic production agreements. Fox is in active discussions with
several investment funds interested in providing equity financing for
its international productions.
"This is a natural next step for me and a
great opportunity," said Panitch. "And
to be able to do it in an environment with such an incredibly broad
global presence is ideal. Our slate will include films targeted for the
markets in which they are made and some pictures for a broader
international audience."
Fox International Productions will oversee production activities already
in progress in Japan, Germany, Russia and India, and will expand Fox´s
local productions in these and other markets in the future. FIP will
work closely with Fox´s other production
divisions and partners and also will tap into its News Corp sister
companies, including STAR, SKY and MySpace, among others.
The endeavor also will coordinate efforts with Fox International, run by
co-presidents Tomas Jegeus and Paul Hanneman. Fox International will
handle all marketing and distribution for FIP.
Commented Jegeus and Hanneman: "Our team has
done considerable work over the past few years in identifying
co-production opportunities around the world and we are excited to work
with Sanford to see those plans come to fruition."
FIP will be staffed in Los Angeles with business affairs, development
and production executives and will draw on the expertise of creative
individuals on staff in those key territories. It also will rely on the
continuing efforts of Tony Safford, Fox´s
executive vice president of worldwide acquisitions.
Panitch has served as president of filmed entertainment for New Regency
for the past seven years, moving from Twentieth Century Fox where he
last served as executive vice president of production. During his
career, he has supervised such films as MR. AND MRS. SMITH, THE
FUGITIVE, SEVEN and TITANIC.
About Twentieth Century Fox
One of the world´s largest producers and
distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces
acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These
motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE:
Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox
Atomic, and Twentieth Century Fox Animation.
