Nadezda Motina’s Moscow-based distributor Arna Media has made a raft of appointments ahead of the EFM, and acquired an upcoming war drama starring Omar Sy and pagan horror from director William Brent Bell.
The firm, which was launched by Russian media executive Motina in October, has named Olga Tarasova as head of theatrical distribution and Irina Antonova as head of marketing.
Tarasova was formerly head of sales at Volga Films and worked on the release of titles including The Gentlemen, Wrath Of Man and The Queen’s Corgi among others. Prior to that, she spent five years at Walt Disney Studios Sony Pictures Releasing.
Antonova joins from Russian VoD platform and distributor Megogo, where she spent a decade as director of marketing and advertising, and was involved in the theatrical distribution of The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Two Is A Family and The Mauritanian.
Further new appointments include Vladimir Permyakov as senior marketing consultant, and Sasha Burova and Kristina Samsonova, who will oversee Arna Media’s publicity department.
New acquisitions
Arna has also bolstered its upcoming release slate with a brace of acquisitions.
These include Father & Soldier, a First World War action drama about Africa’s forgotten war heroes, starring Omar Sy and directed by Mathieu Vadepied. Set for release in 2023, the deal was closed with French sales outfit Gaumont, which is also co-producing the film.
The second title is Lord Of Misrule, a pagan horror starring Tuppence Middleton and Ralph Ineson, which is directed by US filmmaker William Brent Bell, whose credits include The Boy and The Devil Inside. London-based Bankside Films is handling sales on the title, which is in production.
This spring, Arna is set to give theatrical releases to Patrice Leconte’s Maigret, starring Gérard Depardieu; Oliver Stone’s documentary JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass; a re-release of 2006 anthology feature Paris, Je T’aime; and a 4K re-release of Wong Kar-wai’s 2046.
The distributor is aiming to release around 16 titles a year theatrically and has a slate that includes Sophie Hyde’s Sundance comedy-drama Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, starring Emma Thompson, which premiered at Sundance and will screen at the Berlinale this week.
Arna founder and CEO Motina previously ran Russian distribution outfit Capella Film.
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