Fox, WB team in Benelux

Studios to trade distribution duties in country

By IAN MUNDELL

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BRUSSELS -- Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. are to trade theatrical distribution duties in the Benelux region, local Fox topper Anthony Callebaut confirmed Tuesday, adding, "It's a question of efficiency."

Warner is to take on theatrical distribution of Fox titles in the Netherlands, while Fox will distribute Warner titles in Belgium. Fox will close its Amsterdam office, while Warner Bros. will close in Brussels.

Negotiations with staff are on-going, Callebaut said, but the new set-up should be in place at the end of March or beginning of April.

"This way we think we can make our local, strategic initiatives happen better and stronger," he explained. "It's also going to be a more efficient way for us to meet the needs of the marketplace across the whole of the Benelux region."

Coordination between Dutch and Belgian releases will depend on individual titles. "But there's always going to be some kind of synergy between the two territories," Callebaut said.