NEW FILMS INTERNATIONAL EXPANDS EXECUTIVE ROSTER
J.D. Beaufils Named Executive Vice President, Worldwide Distribution
Douglas McClure Named Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs
Los Angeles, CA – April 25, 2014 – Bolstering its executive management team as the company continues to expand, New Films International (NFI), the Los Angeles based film and TV finance, production and distribution company, today announced that veteran foreign distribution executive J.D. Beaufils has been hired as EVP, Worldwide Distribution while Douglas McClure has been hired as SVP, Business and Legal Affairs. Both will report to New Films International CEO Amy Beecroft.
As EVP, Worldwide Distribution, Beaufils is charged with overseeing all aspects of NFI’s burgeoning international sales operations in the film, TV and digital spaces. He will also play an integral role in evaluating third party projects and negative pickups for the company’s foreign acquisition and distribution slate.
McClure will oversee all of the company’s business and legal affairs activities including supervision of the memorialization of international sales deals, management of deal executions on acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, as well as work on production and corporate financing.
Commenting on the staffing moves Beecroft said, “We are putting together a best-in-class team here at New Films International and surrounding ourselves with executives who are not only the most skilled in their respective fields, but also have a true passion for the business.”
Added Beecroft, “J.D. has a stellar track record and brings a wealth of experience and contacts to his new position. Under his stewardship, we feel we are well positioned to advance our international sales operations and further build our brand globally.”
“The addition of Doug strengthens the company’s position in an unrelenting marketplace. He demonstrates tremendous business and legal savvy in negotiating key deals and the company will certainly benefit from his experience and expertise in these fields.”
The latest film projects being financed and produced by NFI include the WWII thriller PURSUIT (producing with Mace Neufeld) and James Franco’s adaptation of William Faulkner’s classic novel THE SOUND AND THE FURY, which recently wrapped production and stars Seth Rogen and Danny McBride.
A Sales & Distribution Film executive for 14 years, J.D. Beaufils began his Entertainment career in 1999 at LA based Overseas Filmgroup (now First Look Studios) as a Junior Salesman, climbing up to the position of Director of Sales handling major European territories as well as the Asian continent. In 2005 he joined Bauer Martinez International contributing through key pre-sales to the financing of major motion pictures domestically distributed by MGM and The Weinstein Co.
He has since served as Sr. Vice-President at Family and Animation-oriented Porchlight Entertainment as well as genre outfit Epic Pictures Group before moving from Hollywood to the San Francisco Bay Area to bridge the gap between the Film Industry and New Media and launch the North American operations of Under The Milky Way, a worldwide preferred aggregator responsible for the release of 1,000+ titles on major digital platforms such as iTunes, Sony Entertainment Network, Google Play, Vudu and Amazon.
Some of the tentpole pictures Beaufils has handled include: Fox Searchlight’s TITUS, Directed by Julie Taymor and starring Anthony Hopkins, HARSH TIMES with Christian Bale and Eva Longoria directed by David Ayer (Training Day, End of Watch), THE FLOCK starring Richard Gere & Claire Danes and directed by Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs I, II & II), I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN (Paul Rudd, Michelle Pfeiffer & Sairse Ronan) as well as Animated Feature Films AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE COLON MOVIE FILM FOR THEATERS (distributed in US Theaters by Warner Bros) and SPACE DOGS 3D. He has a degree in Economics from the University of Paris – Sorbonne and a B.A. in English Literature & Linguistics from the University of Minnesota.
Douglas McClure is a transactional attorney who has over 18 years of experience with a specific focus in the entertainment industry. Before joining NFI, McClure had his own practice.
Prior to launching his own practice, he served as General Counsel for Millennium Entertainment, Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs for Hyde Park Entertainment, Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for 2929 Entertainment, General Counsel for First Look Media, and as a partner at the boutique law firm, Business Affairs, Inc. McClure received his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
About New Films International
Founded in 1996 by Nesim Hason and with Hason experience in the business in Europe since 1980, New Films International (NFI) was established as a full service production and sales company based in Los Angeles and is actively engaged in the production, acquisition, and worldwide licensing of theatrical feature films and television series, and boasts an impressive catalogue featuring hundreds of high quality titles in all genres.
Under the direction of newly appointed CEO Amy Beecroft, the company is positioned to be a major supplier of quality commercial, theatrical projects for the studios and major independents worldwide.
NFI has recently inked a development deal with acclaimed producer Mace Neufeld and is financing and producing the WWII thriller “Pursuit” as the first picture under this new deal. Additionally, NFI is financing James Franco’s adaptation of William Faulkner’s classic novel “The Sound and the Fury,” which recently wrapped production and stars Seth Rogen and Danny McBride.
In response to emerging digital distribution opportunities, NFI has pioneered a unique partner program where it makes its catalog of films available on Video On Demand platforms throughout the world.
NFI further strengthened its strategic distribution alliances by partnering with LIONSGATE, MGM and Warner Brothers to distribute the NFI catalog on TV and VOD in different territories.
NFI distributes and produces scripted television series, such as the internationally successful UNDERCOVER, a 1-Hour Crime Drama from Bulgaria National Television that launched in April 2013 with Sony AXN throughout Latin America (as INFILTRADO) The critically acclaimed Series has sold in over 79 territories around the world. NFI is moving further into production on TV Series, developing local language scripted dramas, telenovelas and reality-shows in Eastern Europe and Latin America as well as setting up shows with U.S. Broadcasters.
For more information please visit www.newfilmsint.com
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