Battsek finally confirmed as new Miramax president


Jeremy Kay in Los Angeles 25 July 2005



Daniel Battsek was finally confirmed as the new president of Miramax Films today, ending speculation over one of the industry's most widely known open secrets of the year.

Battsek, the highly respected executive vice president and managing director of distribution and production at BVI UK, will be based in New York and reports directly to Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook.

His immediate priorities will be to address executive recruitment and staffing levels and assemble the company's initial slate of pictures, while working with Harvey and Bob Weinstein on their remaining titles before they relinquish their posts as Miramax co-chairmen on a non-exclusive basis on Sept 30.

Speaking to Screendaily.com, Battsek refused to be drawn on the issue of staffing levels, Miramax's annual budget which is rumoured to be in the $300m range or how the company would operate with producer Scott Rudin, who has a first-look deal at Disney and is expected to play an active role at Miramax.

He said the new-look Miramax would aim to release six to eight productions and acquisitions each year, adding that executives would waste little time in scouring Toronto and other festivals for new purchases. "There's no specific pressure to acquire product for immediate release," Battsek said.

Miramax has nine titles set for release before the Weinsteins depart, including Terry Gilliam's The Brothers Grimm, John Madden's Proof, and Lasse Hallstrom's An Unfinished Life.

Battsek will collaborate with The Weinstein Company on Breaking And Entering, Derailed, The Matador and Mrs Henderson (aka Mrs Henderson Presents). "I've had a long relationship with Bob and Harvey and I'm very confident it will be a very fruitful collaboration," he said of the Weinsteins.

For their part the brothers will focus on completing projects currently in production and overseeing the marketing and distribution of Miramax and Dimension films scheduled for release.

As of Oct 1, 2005, Battsek will take over all operations for Miramax, which include creative, acquisitions, production, distribution, as well as marketing and publicity.

Among projects already in the pipeline for Miramax are: Ben Affleck's directorial debut Gone Baby Gone, a Dennis Lehane adaptation about the search by two Boston detectives for a missing child; Julian Jarrold's comedy Kinky Boots; Scott Marshall's bar mitzvah comedy Lucky 13; and Lasse Hallstrom's publishing scandal drama Hoax which is produced by Stratus Film Co and will star Richard Gere.

"I'm focusing on putting together a great team of people," Battsek said. "The idea is to look and create and acquire and distribute high quality product that the company can be proud of. It's hard to be specific on anything beyond that at this time.

"The company's profile will be defined by the product, but it's hard to say what that product will be in the future."

He said he was looking forward to the creative challenges of the role and thanked Cook, BVI president Mark Zoradi and other studio top brass for their support.

"Daniel is a remarkable leader as proven by his dynamic and award-winning executive team," Cook said in a statement. "Their unprecedented success throughout the UK can be attributed to Daniel's savvy business sense, combined with his inspired enthusiasm, team spirit and great taste in material.

"His 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."

Under Battsek's stewardship, BVI UK rose from strength to strength and topped the distributor market share chart for the first time in its history in 2003.

Allied to his work in building up the UK Comedy Label into a leading British production companies, Battsek forged strong relationships with British filmmakers like Stephen Frears, Nigel Cole, John Madden, Christopher Nolan, and Anthony Minghella.

He started out at The Hoyts Film Corporation in Sydney, Australia, and moved on to become managing director of Palace Pictures before arriving at Disney in 1991 to set up a UK company as part of Buena Vista International's worldwide distribution network.

He officially joined the Walt Disney Studios a year later and rose through the ranks from vice president and managing director to his most recent post.

His acquisition credits include Shine, Central Station and The Ice Storm, while production credits through BVI UK Comedy Label include Calendar Girls, High Heels And Low Lives, and the upcoming Kinky Boots.

A replacement for Battsek at BVI UK will be announced shortly.