The former senior sales and distribution executive at MGM and Paramount slots into place alongside recent marketing chief hire Christine Birch.

Orr will oversee all aspects of feature distribution at FilmDistrict and reports directly to CEO Peter Schlessel.

“We’re really excited to have Jim join the FilmDistrict team,” Schlessel said. “His outstanding relationships with exhibitors, knowledge of the marketplace and years of experience in every aspect of distribution make him the perfect fit for our new team and our slate.”

“I look forward to working with Peter, Christine Birch and everyone at FilmDistrict and am excited to help them build on their well-established success in the independent landscape,” Orr said.

Orr has served as evp and general sales manager of theatrical distribution and svp of domestic distribution at the aforementioned studios. At MGM he oversaw releases of Hot Tub Time Machine and Valkyrie among others and negotiated new deals with non-theatrical sub-distributors around the world.

Most recently he served as president of Steamboat Rock Entertainment and his resumé includes a consulting stint for Miramax.

FilmDistrict’s upcoming slate includes Lockout through Open Road this weekend, Sundance acquisition Safety Not Guaranteed on Jun 8 and sci-fi thriller Looper in conjunction with Endgame Entertainment and Sony on Sept 28.

Also on the roster are Red Dawn through Open Road on Nov 2, Playing The Field (pictured) on Dec 25 and Parker on Jan 25, 2013.

The company will commence production later this year on Evil Dead in conjunction with Ghost House Pictures and Sony and has announced a sequel to Insidious.