London-based The Sales Company, one of the oldest sales operations in the business, has changed its name to The Works, a new brand which will be launched during the run up to London and MIFED.

The new name coincides with a new modus operandi at the company under chief executive Aline Perry, the former president of PolyGram Film International, who joined in June with a remit to expand the company's sales and film financing operations.

"We intend to expand our business at a time when very few international companies are working with a real history of serving the niche art house market combined with an aggressive business plan to offer more cross-over titles," she said.

Perry also announced two new titles and a dramatic expansion in the staff of the outfit which has traditionally been a lean unit. The Works will represent Kristian Levring's new film Innocence which he co-wrote with his King Is Alive star and real-life partner Janet McTeer. McTeer stars alongside Olympia Dukakis and Brenda Fricker; and Ken Loach's next film Sweet Sixteen produced by Rebecca O'Brien which is currently in production. Both films will be delivered in spring 2002.

Meanwhile Perry's management team has been lined up headed by Rebecca Kearey as head of marketing and distribution, Joy Wong promoted to head of international sales and Clare Crean promoted to senior sales executive.

New staff hires include Brian Shingles, formerly at Vine International Pictures, as head of technical services; Juliette Gill, formerly marketing manager at Capitol Films, as marketing coordinator; Andrew Orr, formerly of Universal Pictures, as acquisitions and distribution coordinator, and Rachel Kitten as festivals and servicing coordinator.
Darnell Brown continues as the company's financial officer.

At the upcoming London and MIFED markets, The Works will be screening promo reels of three films in post-production: Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People, Nick Willing's Doctor Sleep and Gurinder Chadha's Bend It Like Beckham. Completed films screening include Udayan Prasad's Gabriel & Me, Milcho Manchevski's Dust, Ken Loach's The Navigators and Danis Tanovic's No Man's Land.