Ex-Focus Features Executive Jack Foley Joins Bleecker Street
Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen is getting the band back together, so to speak, by hiring former Focus Features colleague Jack Foley as the President of Distribution for his new company. Foley held the same title at Focus Features and has worked in distribution for 30 years at Focus, Miramax and Columbia Pictures. He’s helped distribute such films as “Pulp Fiction,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “The English Patient” and “Thelma and Louise.”
Karpen also hired Myles Bender as Bleecker Street’s new President of Marketing and Creative Advertising, Tyler DiNapoli as President of Marketing, Media & Research and Kent Sanderson as President of Acquisitions and Ancillary Distribution. All three men worked at Focus Features at one point in their careers.
READ MORE: New Distribution Company Bleecker Street Launched by Former Focus Co-CEO Andrew Karpen
“I’m thrilled to be working with some of the most talented people in the film industry,” said Karpen in a press release. “Jack, Myles, Tyler and Kent each bring different skills and abilities to the table, but they all share my love of great films.”
Along with its creation, Bleeker Street announced plans in mid-August to release three-to-five films in 2015. Karpen is a hot hand coming off the successes of “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Beginners” while serving as co-CEO at Focus Features. Films on the docket include Dan Fogelman’s “Danny Collins” starring Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer; “Captain Fantastic” with Viggo Mortensen; and “Trumbo” with recent Emmy-winner Bryan Cranston and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.
