Walt Disney Co. on Monday named Daniel Battsek president of Miramax Films — the studio responsible for Academy Award best picture winners "The English Patient," "Shakespeare in Love" and "Chicago."
Battsek, 47, will take over all operations at Miramax on Oct. 1, the company said.
Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein, who sold the company to Disney in 1993 for $80 million but continued to run the studio, will remain co-chairmen of the film company on a non-exclusive basis through Sept. 30, Disney said.
The parties said in March that they mutually agreed to conclude the Weinsteins' employment contract with Disney.
The company said Battsek will focus on building a new executive team and slate of Miramax films while the Weinsteins are expected to oversee marketing and distribution of films already scheduled for release by Miramax and their Dimension Films label, including Ben Affleck's directorial debut, "Gone Baby Gone," and "Hoax," starring Richard Gere.
This year, Miramax films received best picture nominations for "The Aviator" and "Finding Neverland."
Battsek, who most recently served as executive vice president and managing director of distribution and production for Buena Vista International UK, will report to Dick Cook, chairman of Walt Disney Studios.
He first joined Disney in 1991, when he was hired to start up Disney's film distribution arm in the UK. In 1998, he was promoted to oversee some 35 films per year for the Disney, Touchstone and Miramax labels. He also built the UK Comedy Label production company.
Battsek will move from the UK to New York, where Miramax is headquartered, the company said.
