Black Bear International (BBI) has hired former Protagonist Pictures executive Luane Gauer in a newly-created role of SVP, international production and acquisitions, as the company prepares to launch ‘multiple projects’ for next week’s European Film Market in Berlin (February 16-22).
Gauer will oversee production and lead creative on upcoming BBI productions, as well as source and package UK and European production and acquisitions opportunities for the international sales and UK distribution business.
She will report to BBI president John Friedberg and Llewellyn Radley, EVP international & UK managing director.
Gauer was previously head of acquisitions at UK-based sales company Protagonist Pictures, where she secured titles including The Outrun starring Saoirse Ronan and US horror Clown In A Cornfield, for which sales launched at the 2022 American Film Market.
Her prior roles include working at Universal Pictures in London, and as vice president, production and acquisitions at Universal label Focus Features in Los Angeles.
A statement from Friedberg and Radley described Gauer as “an executive with impeccable taste, a keen business sense and a fantastic reputation in the industry… she will be instrumental in driving the growth of our UK and European focussed production and acquisitions business.”
Former STX International head John Friedberg joined Black Bear as a partner last year, with the international and UK distribution arms officially launching in September. Its current international slate includes Craig Gillespie’s Wall St drama Dumb Money, Michael Mohan’s horror Immaculate and Guy Ritchie war drama The Ministry Of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Originally published at https://www.screendaily.com/news/black-bear-international-hires-former-protagonist-focus-exec-in-production-and-acquisitions-role/5178906.article
