Andrew Fogelson and CarlHampe have joined the new US independent distributor MAC Releasing, it wasannounced today (Jan 9) by partners Craig Baumgarten, Andy Gruenberg and MikeMarcus. Fogelson, who arrives from PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, joins as apartner after serving as a consultant to MAC since its inception in May 2002.Hampe, who arrives from the acquisitions department at Miramax Films, becomeshead of acquisitions.

'We are very pleasedto have these two highly experienced, respected industry executives join MACReleasing as we gear up for 2003,' Marcus said in a prepared statement onbehalf of the partners. 'Andrew is a veteran in the film production,marketing and distribution arena, with a sterling reputation. Carl'sbackground as an intelligent acquisitions executive with terrific taste makeshim an incredible asset to the company.'

'MAC has a uniqueopportunity to provide a thoroughly elastic, highly professional distributionalternative, one that can be as adept at carefully nursing a special film as itcan releasing a broader audience film economically in a sequence of well-timedregional openings. Iím looking forward to being a part of it,'Fogelson said.

In his role as president ofPolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Fogelson oversaw the creation and operation ofPolyGram Films in the domestic market and supervised the marketing anddistribution of its slate, along with that of Gramercy Pictures. His AFACompany has served as production and marketing consultants since 1988, andcurrently is involved with several new business ventures.

At Miramax Acquisitions,Hampe was responsible for covering projects originating from North America,Asia and Australia.

MAC Releasing also announcedthat its first two releases of the year will be the quirky comedy, Dirt, by the film-making team Covert and Fraim andstarring Michael Covert, Tracy Fraim and Patrick Warburton, and Alfredo deVilla's Latin-themed coming-of-age drama Washington Heights, which stars Tomas Milian, Manny Perez and AndreaNavedo. Both films will open in New York. Dirt is scheduled for release on Apr 25 and WashingtonHeights on May 9.

The distributor is privatelyfinanced and has a mandate to release 10-12 feature films annually. Inaddition, MAC is developing a model for regional wide release distribution forinclusion in its business plan in the coming months. MAC has long-term outputdeals with Showtime and Lions Gate Home Entertainment.