Edward Noeltner has joined Miramax International as senior vice president of sales and distribution, reporting directly to Miramax Films chairman of worldwide distribution Rick Sands.

Noeltner, a well-known face on the international festival and market circuit, comes to Miramax from AB Svensk Filmindustri where he was senior vice president, international distribution, for the past two years. He also opened Svensk's office in Paris, where he was previously based. He will now relocate to Miramax headquarters in New York.

Noeltner fills the shoes left by executive vice president Cedric Jeanson, who left Miramax after Cannes this year. "I am very proud and pleased to welcome Edward to the Miramax International team," said Sands in a statement. "Edward's long and extremely effective career in sales and distribution, working with some of the biggest companies in the International sales arena, make him the perfect executive to help bring Miramax's large and varied release slate into worldwide distribution."

"Edward is already well known and respected by the majority of Miramax's family of distributors," said Sands. "This ensures and reinforces the continuity of the relationships we have long enjoyed with our primary distributors throughout the world.

Noeltner headed the television department of Pandora Cinema for three years before joining Svensk and before that served as President of Senator Film International, the Berlin-based international sales division which he founded for the German independent.

He began his career with Cineteve as director of International Affairs in 1986 and later spent seven years as vice president, international distribution for Europe Export Films.

"I am tremendously excited at the prospect of joining the company that has always been the standard-setter in the world of international distribution," said Noeltner. "I feel that everything I've learned will come into play in this challenging position."