Changing Industry: As Dentler Moves to Cinetic's New Rights Management Division, A Pierson Steps in to Lead SXSW

Rising expectations for the future of film distribution paved the way for a pair of important industry moves within the independent movie industry today. Word that SXSW Film Festival head Matt Dentler would leave the increasingly important South by Southwest festival to join a new arm of Cinetic Media aimed at repping digital rights came alongside the announcement that Janet Pierson is replacing him in Austin. Dentler will serve as head of marketing and programming operations within the new Cinetic Rights Management (CRM) unit, while fellow board member at the local Austin Film Society, Pierson has been named the new producer of the fest and conference that runs alongside the popular annual SXSW Music event.
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MoMA Names Raj Roy Chief Curator of Film Department; Hamptons Artistic Director Succeeds Bandy

Concluding a nearly year-long search, the Museum of Modern Art has named Rajendra Roy the Chief Curator for its Department of Film. The Artistic Director of the Hamptons International Film Festival and a member of the international competition selection committee for the Berlin International Film Festival, Roy previously served as a Program Manager in the film department at the Guggenheim Museum in New York and was the executive director of MIX: The New York Lesbian and Gay Experimental Film/Video Festival. On July 2nd, Roy will officially join MoMA as the Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of the Department of Film, succeeding Mary Lea Bandy who retired from the museum in 2006 after serving as the head of the film department for 26 years. He will remain an unpaid artistic advisor to the Hamptons fest through the end of this year's event.
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Bingham Ray Named President of SKE's New Kimmel Distribution

Former United Artists president Bingham Ray has been named president of Kimmel Distribution, the new wholly-owned division of Los Angeles-based financing and production company Sidney Kimmel Entertainment. Jim Tauber, SKE's president and COO announced Tuesday that Ray will take on the new post immediately and report directly to Tauber. He will divide his time between New York and L.A. Mark Kristol, SKE's president of marketing and distribution will continue in his role within the division and report to Ray.
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Vitale Joins First Look Pictures As Company President

Just weeks after leaving Paramount Classics, the studio specialty division that she ran with David Dinerstein for nearly eight years, Ruth Vitale has announced her new job as president of First Look Pictures. At the company, Vitale will run the First Look's theatrical division and work closely with First Look International as well as its U.S. video and DVD distribution arm, First Look Home Entertainment. That unit recently acquired the DEJ Productions, including the DEJ library, from Blockbuster, Inc. She will report to First Look Studios CEO Harry Winterstern.

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As Expected, Paramount Officially Names Lesher New Head of Specialty Division

Paramount Pictures chairman and CEO Brad Grey officially named John Lesher as president of the studio's specialty film label currently known as Paramount Classics, replacing the company's co-chiefs Ruth Vitale and David Dinerstein, who announced their departure early last month. Lesher joins Paramount from the Endeavor Agency, where he has been a partner since 2001 and will be responsible for film development, production, and acquisitions at the label, which will maintain its own marketing and distribution departments, according to the announcement. Lesher will report directly to Grey and will also work closely with Rob Moore, Paramount's president of worldwide marketing, distribution and operations, as well as Paramount Pictures president Gail Berman.

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Graham Leggat Named New Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society

Graham Leggat, who currently serves as director of communications at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, has been appointed the new executive director of the San Francisco Film Society effective October 17th, the organization announced Wednesday. Leggat replaces Roxanne Messina Captor, who departed from the position following the 48th San Francisco International Film Festival in May. The group organizes the annual festival, which will be held April 20 - May 4 in 2006.
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