Constantin Film production executive Mike Gabrawy has been named head of production for Arclight Films as the company steps up its slate.

Gabrawy will be based in Los Angeles and oversee development and production of the company's slate of eight-to-10 productions per year and co-ordinate Arclight's international productions in Europe, Australia and Asia.

Among the new projects with which he will be involved are the adaptation of of Top Cow's comic book Witchblade with Platinum Studios to be directed by Michael Rymer, as well as Stan Winston's creature feature Speed Demon and Kaare Andrews'' supernatural thriller Altitude.

At Constantin Gabrawy was responsible for acquiring and developing among others. His producing credits include All YouResident Evil, Need, Stealing Time and the political documentary, Running With Arnold, which was released earlier this year by Red Envelope Entertainment.

'We are aggressively expanding our production activities, and Mike's experience and energy complement our plans, particularly in the area of big productions that we are now developing with major partners,' Arclight managing director Gary Hamilton,' said.