APPOINTMENT OF JED BENEDICT AND CREATION OF A GENRE LABEL

Today STUDIOCANAL announces the appointment of Jed Benedict and the creation of its first genre label. Jed Benedict, known for his expertise in acquisitions, development, and production joins STUDIOCANAL where he previously held positions from 2012 to 2020.

STUDIOCANAL CEO Anna Marsh comments: “We are thrilled that Jed Benedict is returning to STUDIOCANAL to launch this label. His knowledge of content, his international network and his expertise in acquisitions, development and production make him the ideal profile to develop STUDIOCANAL's genre content. This new label will increase our presence in the market which has many dedicated genre enthusiasts we want to cater for, and it comes with high ambition to announce projects under Jed’s curation in the months ahead.”

Head of STUDIOCANAL new genre label Jed Benedict expands: “I am so delighted to return to STUDIOCANAL who have fully embraced the opportunity to create a destination for talented artists - established and new - with bold and daring visionary ambition. This new genre label allows us the freedom of working in the shadows where we believe the genre film experience can be the most visceral, collective, and cathartic of any type of cinema. Our new label will focus on horror, thriller, sci fi and action where storytellers need not run from the darkness. Our goal is to be synonymous with films that dare to explore, that are fearless in their storytelling, which unlock the imagination with high concept narratives and above all else, give audiences one hell of a ride.”

Based in the United Kingdom and reporting to EVP, Global Production Ron Halpern Jed Benedict will be responsible for ensuring STUDIOCANAL's editorial line in genre content as Head of STUDIOCANAL new genre label. He will also work with the STUDIOCANAL French production team.

STUDIOCANAL new genre label will encompass film and TV series development, production, and distribution with the opportunity to delve deeper into STUDIOCANAL’s catalogue of 9,000 titles spanning 100 years of film history. The name of this new label will be revealed soon.

JED BENEDICT’S BIOGRAPHY

Jed Benedict began his career at John Schmidt's indie production, distribution and sales company ContentFilm in 2008 where he worked for Jamie Carmichael as International Acquisitions Manager in London and LA, with a slate including Andrea Arnold's FISH TANK, Tom DiCillo's THE DOORS documentary WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE, Oren Moverman's THE MESSENGER, Nicolas McCarthy’s THE PACT and Jonathan Liebesman's THE KILLING ROOM.

In 2012, Jed was hired by STUDIOCANAL UK as Senior Acquisitions Manger working under Head of UK Acquisitions Alison Meese and UK CEO Danny Perkins and helped to build a line up which included Lenny Abrahamson's ROOM, Celine Sciamma's GIRLHOOD, Yann DeMange's '71, Michael Showalter's THE BIG SICK, Morten Tyldum's THE IMITATION GAME, Lynne Ramsay's YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE and Kenneth Lonergan's MANCHESTER BY THE SEA.

In the UK, Jed acquired David Mackenzie's HELL OR HIGH WATER, Yeon Sang-ho's TRAIN TO BUSAN, Noah Bambauch’s DE PALMA, S. Craig Zahler’s DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE, Thomas Vinterberg's Oscar winning ANOTHER ROUND, Rose Glass's SAINT MAUD, Roar Uthuag’s THE WAVE, acclaimed Aretha Franklin concert doc AMAZING GRACE and was instrumental in Australia acquiring Ari Aster's HEREDITARY.

Joining Danny Perkins’ CAA backed UK distributor Elysian Film Group in May 2020 as its Head of Acquisitions and Development, Jed worked across acquisitions and production which included building a budding British comedy slate with Kris Tykier’s Archery Pictures. During Jed’s tenure, Elysian produced the Take That musical GREATEST DAYS and most recently acquired Hayao Miyazaki’s BAFTA winning THE BOY AND THE HERON with Anonymous Content and Bleeker Street, currently approaching £5m at the UK box office.

ABOUT STUDIOCANAL (a CANAL+ Company)

STUDIOCANAL, a 100% affiliate of CANAL+ Group held by Vivendi, is Europe’s leader in production, distribution and international sales of feature films and series, operating in all nine major European markets - France, United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Spain, and Benelux - as well as in Australia, in New Zealand and in the United States. It finances, produces and distributes 80 films per year. It owns the largest library in Europe and one of the most prestigious libraries in the world, boasting more than 9 000 titles from 60 countries, spanning 100 years of film history. Close to 25 million euros has been invested into the 4K restoration of nearly 1 000 classic feature films over the past 5 years. In addition, STUDIOCANAL also produces almost 20 series each year and operates at an international level by globally distributing its scripted productions and CANAL+ Originals (2,000 hours of current and library content in distribution). All productions take place directly through STUDIOCANAL entities or with its award-winning network of 14 production companies in Europe and in the United States: 2E BUREAU (FR), STUDIOCANAL ORIGINAL (FR), BIRDIE PICTURES (UK), RED PRODUCTION COMPANY (UK), URBAN MYTH FILMS (UK), STRONG FILM & TELEVISION (UK), SUNNY MARCH TV (UK), BAMBU PRODUCCIONES (SP), KINO SWIAT LAILAPS FILMS (GER), STUDIOCANAL SERIES (GER), OPUS TV (POL), SAM PRODUCTIONS (DEN), DINGIE (NETH), THE PICTURE COMPANY (US).

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS

Elvire Charbonnel: elvire.charbonnel@canal-plus.com

GLOBAL PUBLICITY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Suzanne Noble: suzanne.noble@STUDIOCANAL.com