Stuart Ford Named President of First Look International; Ken DuBow Named President of First Look Television. Appointments Signal the Company's Planned Growth Strategy in the International and Television Arenas
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of First Look Studios' progressive growth, Stuart Ford, former Co-Head of Miramax International, has joined First Look Studios as President of First Look International. Simultaneously Ken DuBow has been named President of First Look Television, it is announced today by Henry Winterstern, CEO of First Look Studios. Both appointments are effective immediately.
Ford will head First Look Studios' team at the upcoming Venice, Deauville and Toronto Film Festivals. His appointment is the first step in a thorough reenergizing of First Look's international efforts. Up first for Ford is to expand the number of movies handled by the international sales company in tandem with First Look's fast growing production and U.S. theatrical distribution activity under Winterstern and Vitale.
Previously Ford ran the international division at Miramax where he oversaw all aspects of Miramax's international theatrical distribution and sales operations. During Ford's tenure he was involved in the international distribution of such high profile titles as "Kill Bill" and "Cold Mountain." As a former Acquisitions Co-Head at the company Ford was a part of successful releases such as "City of God," "Amelie," "Hero" and "Fahrenheit 911."
More recently, Ford has executive produced Buena Vista's $90 million trilogy of "GOAL!" movies, the forthcoming Venice entry "Summerlove" and FIFA's upcoming Official World Cup Film to be directed by Michael Apted. He also produced the feature documentary "Laughter Club" and was a founding partner and chief operating officer of film financing and private equity operation FilmBank Capital.
With the arrival of Ford, Winterstern felt it was the perfect time to take advantage of DuBow's extensive background in television sales and marketing to create First Look Television to be headed by DuBow.
"With the launch of First Look Television, First Look will become an even stronger player in the television business," stated DuBow, adding that the company will soon be producing its own series and films for television. First Look is also selling its first series, "The Collector," which will premiere in U.S. syndication during fall 2007. In addition, First Look will begin selling two new movie packages from its recent acquisition of 56 films from Pinnacle Entertainment. DuBow will be responsible for expanding the number of properties available as well as broadening outreach to new territories.
Prior to joining First Look, DuBow was president and CEO of Modern Entertainment where he spearheaded the sale of a more than 300 title film library to Lionsgate, including such titles as "Dirty Dancing," "Conan, the Barbarian" and Stephen King's "The Dead Zone." Before heading Modern, DuBow was senior vice president of U.S. Cable Sales at MGM/UA Entertainment. He began his career at MGM/UA in Atlanta in U.S. syndication and has held executive sales positions with Buena Vista Television, Pandora Films and Paragon Entertainment. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as well as board member of the American Film Export Association.
About First Look Studios
First Look Studios, formed in 2005 by Chairman and CEO Henry Winterstern, is a leading independent entertainment studio with five key operating divisions: First Look Pictures, the U.S. theatrical distribution and production operation; First Look Home Entertainment, the U.S. video and DVD distribution operation; First Look International, the company's international sales operation; First Look Media, a branded entertainment arm; and First Look Television. The company (www.firstlookstudios.com) is headquartered in Hollywood, CA.
Source: First Look Studios
Web site: http://www.firstlookstudios.com/