02/12/2003

In a constantly changing sales environment, two major UK film sales companies are changing leadership. The UK production, distribution and sales company, Winchester Films, is merging with US group, ContentFilm, while Jeremy Thomas’ sales arm, Hanway, has hired ex-Intermedia executive Tim Haslam to replace its managing director, Thierry Wase-Bailey, who is leaving to set up his own sales company.

The merger of Winchester and two-year-old ContentFilm resulted from a reverse takeover from the US company, and it means that ContentFilm will be run by the joint CEOs, Ed Pressman and John Schmidt, with Content International’s Jamie Carmichael taking over all sales responsibilities for the new entity. Mick Southwork, who’s currently head of distribution for Winchester, will keep the same responsibilities under the new management. Former Universal executive, Frank Biondi, will continue to invest in ContentFilm alongside another key investor, Syntek Capital, a private equity company.

Meanwhile, Thierry Wase-Bailey, who had been overseeing Hanway’s sales operation since its creation in 1999, intends to set up his own sales operation, called Entco. He is being replaced by Tim Haslam, who said, “I have dreamt of collaborating with a hands-on producer such as Jeremy (Thomas) who consistently produces distinctive movies and is creatively truly independent and innovative”.

Hanway’s line-up includes Bernardo Bertolucci’s the Dreamers [+see also:
trailer
interview: Bernardo Bertolucci
film profile] and Young Adam by David Mackenzie starring Ewan McGregor, as well as Wim Wenders’ upcoming film, Don’t Come Knockin’ with Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange and Jean Reno.