WarnerMedia U.K. Appoints Joel Kennedy as Director of Local Film Production and Acquisitions

Joel Kennedy has been appointed director of local film production and acquisitions for WarnerMedia U.K. and Ireland.

Kennedy, who joins from independent film and TV financier Lorton Entertainment, will identify and acquire local productions as well as oversee the delivery process, including contract negotiation, producer and sales agent liaison, sourcing and script development. He will be based in London and, from Monday (June 7), report to Neil Marshall, senior VP of theatrical distribution for WarnerMedia U.K. and Ireland.

At Lorton Entertainment, Kennedy managed acquisitions and sales and distribution. He also packaged titles and executive produced projects including “Diego Maradona.” Before that, he spent six years at Entertainment One, where he worked on acquisitions, leading the charge on titles including “I, Tonya”.

“Joel has a track record of identifying, developing, and delivering high-profile titles and is well respected within the independent production community,” Marshall said.

“Our local production and acquisition business is going from strength to strength, and the U.K. and Ireland are vital markets for us. Having Joel on board will help us continue to bring audiences more new and ambitious local titles to complement our world-famous and much-loved U.S. content, which WarnerMedia has long been known for,” Marshall added.

“WarnerMedia’s bold and ambitious, world-leading content speaks for itself,” added Kennedy. “I look forward to working with Neil and the team to bring audiences both at home and abroad some of the U.K. and Ireland’s best new and original titles.”

Elsewhere, WarnerMedia revealed last week that veteran Iris Knobloch — who is based in France and most recently served as president of WarnerMedia France, Benelux, Germany, Austria and Switzerland — is stepping down after 25 years at the company.

Last month, Discovery and WarnerMedia partner company AT&T unveiled their plans for a new company spun off from WarnerMedia, tentatively called Warner Bros. Discovery.

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