BBC Films has taken another step on the road towards making larger-scale pictures by setting up a Los Angeles office under Peter Kalmbach, formerly vice-president of acquisitions and production at USA Films.

As senior vice-president of BBC Films Los Angeles, Kalmbach is to help find and develop material with international potential, reporting to BBC Films chief David Thompson. He will focus on pairing American writers, directors and producers with British talent, and on broadening relationships with US production and distribution partners.

Prior to his two years at USA Films, Kalmbach was vice president of acquisitions and productions at October Films. His acquisitions include Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne's Rosetta, Robert Duvall's The Apostle and David Lynch's Lost Highway.

"There's an enormous amount of film talent in the UK, but to realise its full potential, it's sometimes necessary to harness it with American talent with a particular experience," said BBC drama and entertainment supremo Alan Yentob.