Richard Sheffield, of Australia's REP Film Distribution, is believed to be joining the newly-formed Hoyts Distribution, with responsibility for international acquisitions, although neither party would confirm the move.

Sheffield, one of the original founders of REP Films in 1987, left the company eight years later to establish the Australian subsidiary of Polygram, which had previously distributed through REP. He subsequently re-joined REP six months ago, replacing Mark Gooder who is now setting up Icon Distribution's Australian office.

It was announced earlier this month that Robert Slaviero would be joining Hoyts Distribution as managing director and Sheffield is thought to be one of a team of managers and staff being built around him. Slaviero was previously head of 20th Century Fox Film Distributors.

One of Hoyts' first releases will be Dirty Deeds, currently in production and starring Bryan Brown, Toni Collette and John Goodman. David Caesar is directing his own script and the producers are Brown and Debbie Balderstone. No other acquisitions have been announced.