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In 1972, Ken Higgins' boss, a Greek emigre, asked him to accompany him to a film festival in Italy. Seeing so many films targeting so many markets was an eye-opener for him. He decided then he wanted to work on an international level.

It took two decades, but he did it. In 1992, he helped lead Cinemark's international expansion as prexy of Cinemark Intl. Mexico.

Two years later, he was promoted to VP & head of film for Cinemark Intl., a title he still holds. Today, Cinemark Intl. has 121 theaters in 12 countries, mainly in Mexico, Central America and South America. "For me, being able to work with the studios and the local distributors and get those films into theaters, I really feel is a major accomplishment," Higgins says.

"The first thing that any international distributor will tell you is it is a very complicated business," he continues. "It takes a lot of effort, and you have people spread out."