Glowinski to join StudioCanal

Producer to boost international production

By JOHN HOPEWELL, ELSA KESLASSY

PARIS -- Gallic mini-major StudioCanal has tapped Pathe producer Leonard Glowinski to the newly-created post of head of co-productions and acquisitions for France and Europe.

The move underscores the big production ambitions of StudioCanal, the film production, distribution, financing and international sales arm of Vivendi-owned French paybox Canal Plus.

A highly respected figure on France's international film scene, Glowinski was responsible for producing for Pathe a string of high-profile films from Oliver Stone's "Alexander" to Stephen Frears' "The Queen," Julian Schnabel's "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," Frederic Forestier and Thomas Langmann's "Asterix at the Olympic Games" and Roman Polanski's "Oliver Twist." He was working on Schnabel's "Miral" for Pathe when tapped by StudioCanal.

Glowinski's appointment comes as StudioCanal looks set to drive with ever more force into U.S., international and local production.

At Cannes, StudioCanal chairman Olivier Courson announced that the Gallic powerhouse was teaming with Neal Moritz's Original Films on a reboot of "Cliffhanger," and aiming to raise the number of international pics it produces to around five a year.

StudioCanal's U.K. distrib Optimum Releasing has just greenlit the first film out of its development slate, "Brighton Rock," which it will co-produce with Kudos and BBC Films.

As StudioCanal drives to become Europe's leading studio, Glowinski, while heading up French production -- no mean role -- also looks set to bring to the table his expertise in structuring European co-productions, adding new creative and financial heft to both local and international productions.