Amazon MGM Studios Names Amanda Baker-Lane Global Head of DEIA as Latasha Gillespie Exits

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Stacia Deshishku is the latest senior ABC News executive to leave the journalism operation in the wake of a recent restructuring by parent company Walt Disney Co. Deshishku was the executive editor of ABC News, and part of a team of senior executives put together by former ABC News President Kim Godwin.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent TOLEDO, Spain — Delivering a masterclass on the first full day of Conecta Fiction in Spain’s Toledo, Javiera Balmaceda – Amazon Studios’ head of international originals, Latin America – underscored one of the perils of frequent air travel, in her case around South America: a voice reduced at times to a near gasp. All credit to her; she soldiered on, and her ideas came over loud and clear. Takeaways from her masterclass, one of the highlights of early Conecta Fiction.

Naman Ramachandran Ketan Mehta, the revered Indian filmmaker who also serves as founder and chair of animation house Cosmos-Maya, known for long-running animated Nickelodeon show “Motu Patlu,” says that the global companies who operate TV channels in India create content that is local-specific and fails to resonate with international audiences. Mehta was speaking at the ongoing Mumbai International Film Festival which hosted a lively panel debate on animation. The discussion featured some of the top Iranian and Indian names in the business.

Paramount Global General Counsel Christa D’Alimonte has told colleagues she will be exiting the company at the end of the month.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Kitano Takeshi, one of the biggest names in contemporary Japanese cinema, is directing an untitled movie for Amazon MGM Studios. Other details of the movie, such as cast and synopsis were also scant. Amazon said only that it, “will produce globally acclaimed Japanese director Takeshi Kitano’s feature film.

Lionsgate and Lionsgate Studios has upped Chase Brisbin to EVP, International SVOD Sales and Head of Global Channels.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large Lionsgate has upped Chase Brisbin to exec VP of international SVOD sales and head of global channels. The news was announced Tuesday by Lionsgate’s worldwide TV distribution prexy Jim Packer.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent In two strategic appointments as co-production becomes the order of the day, Secuoya Studios has launched a new European Sales and Global Co-Production Division, overseen by Brendan Fitzgerald, ex Sony Pictures Entertainment senior exec who joined Secuoya Studios as its CEO at the beginning of the year. The Division’s first director will be María García-Castrillón, who has been named its Head of International Co-Productions.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Coralie Fargeat’s Demi Moore-starring feminist body horror film “The Substance” has been set as the closing night title for the New Zealand International Film Festival. The picture is one of 16 which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last month selected for the NZIFF which is now under the artistic leadership of Paolo Bertolin.

Naman Ramachandran Far from the bright lights of Bollywood, the indomitable Indian documentary filmmaking industry has been making waves globally. The recent past has several examples of India‘s international success.

EXCLUSIVE: ZDF Studios is saying goodbye to one of its longest-serving international execs.

Crunchyroll Senior Vice President of Global Commerce Mitchel Berger was in ebullient mood as he gave a talk on the growing global reach of anime at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this week.

Naman Ramachandran In a significant development for the Indian entertainment industry, Artist International Group (AIG), under the leadership of David Unger, and Creativeland Studios, helmed by Sajan Raj Kurup, have unveiled a joint venture to establish AIG India. This new talent and production company aims to bridge the gap between Hollywood and India’s vibrant creative scene. AIG India will focus on discovering, nurturing, and promoting Indian talent across various artistic fields, leveraging AIG’s global reach and Creativeland Studios’ in-depth knowledge of the Indian market.

Latasha Gillespie is stepping down from her post as Global Head of DEIA for Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video effective August 29 after seven years at Amazon, the last five at the film and TV studio. She will be succeed by Amanda Baker-Lane, who has worked in the DEIA space for more than 14 years, the last 9 ½ of them in various roles at Amazon, most recently Head of DEIA Product and Strategy under Gillespie.

Anna Marie de la Fuente Eurozoom, a leading French distributor for Japanese animation, has forged a strategic partnership with major French animation producer Special Touch Studios, led by founder and CEO Sebastien Onomo. “We both share the same passion for animation and want to tell bold stories with a particular attention to professional diversity,” said Eurozoom’s CEO-Founder Amel Lacombe, who added that they were jointly working on a six-animation feature lineup. Leading the pack is “Melvile,” directed by Romain Renard and Fursy Teyssier.

Prime Video Italy is taking a leap “not only at national level but at international level” with its originals strategy, its scripted boss has said.

EXCLUSIVE: Iconic Poirot actor David Suchet will replicate an international expedition crime writer Agatha Christie took in the 1920s in a five-part doc series.

Refresh for latest…: Sony’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die pummeled pre-weekend opening projections, coming in with a $104.6M global bow, including $48.6M from the international box office. While the overseas debut is slightly off 2020’s Bad Boys for Life which did $50.3M in like-for-like offshore markets at today’s exchange rates, that film had strong legs. Either way, Ride or Die‘s start gave some much needed oomph to summer turnstiles. Its launch is 58% bigger than Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Maxton Hall – The World Between Us is Prime Video’s biggest ever international launch, and the streamer has shared the inside story of the series’ rollout and admitted it is “tempting” to make the second season of the romantic drama extend beyond the six episodes seen in the first run.

EXCLUSIVE: Kartoon Studios has struck its first deal with an AI dubbing platform.