Marco Mehlitz, the former head of production at VIF International Films, has been named chief operating officer of German production fund Cinerenta. He will be responsible for sourcing projects to be produced by Cinerenta and overseeing the projects alongside Michael Ohoven, CEO of LA-based Infinity International Entertainment, the US consultant for Cinerenta.

Mehlitz will also use Infinity, which is owned and run by Michael Ohoven, to identify US-based film properties and continue production and distribution partnerships already in place such as with First Look Media, Lakeshore Entertainment and Lions Gate Entertainment.

He was most recently at production fund VIF for two years, setting up productions to qualify for Germany tax fund laws such as Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine and Canadian sci-fi series Myth Quest. Prior to VIF, he worked closely with Cologne-based fund International West Pictures on films such as Bookies which he also line produced.

Current Cinerenta productions include The Human Stain with Lakeshore for director Robert Benton, Confidence with Lions Gate which is directed by James Foley and Knights Castle with First Look which is in development with director John Boorman.