Tamara Stuparich De La Barra has been promoted to directorof acquisitions at MDP Worldwide Entertainment, the company's chairmanand CEO Mark Damon announced today (Jan 30). Stuparich De La Barra's newresponsibilities will include the evaluation and coordination of all featurefilm submissions as well as overseeing the acquisition of completed films. Shewill also be actively involved in the development of all MDP projects includingthe recently acquired thriller Higher,which will be directed by James Foley and is set to begin filming in latespring. Stuparich De La Barra will also work closely with the acquisition anddevelopment of Handprint Entertainment's feature projects as part of itsrecent first-look deal with MDP.

Upcoming MDP releases include: Patty Jenkins'crime-drama Monster, which is due tobegin filming in Florida in February and stars Charlize Theron and ChristinaRicci; The United States Of Leland,Matthew Ryan Hoge's drama starring Ryan Gosling and Don Cheadle whichwill be distributed in North America through Paramount Classics; and thepsychological thriller The I Inside,directed by Roland Suso Richter, who made The Tunnel. The picture stars Ryan Phillippe, Sarah Polley andStephen Rea and was picked up for North American distribution by Miramax Films.