Pathe UK is expanding its production team by hiring Louis Tisne as Director of International Production and Michael Cowen as Director of Development.

Tisne, who previously worked with Momentum, will report directly to Cameron McCracken, Managing Director of Pathe UK.

Cowen will identify emerging talent in the UK as well as working on Pathe's expanding development slate. He previously worked for The Weinstein Company and will now report to Colleen Woodcock, Pathe's Head of Creative Affairs.

'For more than a decade Pathe has been one of the leading independent distributors in the UK,' McCracken said. 'We have long recognized the commercial need to not only acquire films but also to produce them. Pathe's productions have ranged from Chicken Run to The Queen, and whilst such success is clearly not guaranteed, we have decided to place a much greater emphasis on developing and distributing our own films. In particular, with the arrival of such young and talented creative executives as Louis and Michael, we hope to extend our reach to a new generation of filmmakers both here in the UK and internationally.'

Pathe's current productions include Saul Dibb's The Duchess, Stephen Frears' Cheri, Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire and Jane Campion'sBright Star.

The company also has projects in development with Peter Morgan, Julian Fellowes, Simon Beaufoy, Abi Morgan, Dan Mazur, Jeffrey Hatcher, Dick Clement & Ian La Fresnais, Mark Frost and Paul Andrew Williams.

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