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Indie Film Champion Miramax Closes NYC Office
2-Nov-2009
Written by: Robyn Chelsea-Seifert
Are we hearing the death rattle of independent films as Miramax closes its New York office along with the departure of its president.
Amid massive layoffs brought on by years of financial struggles, Miramax Films has announced the closure of its New York office and the departure of President Daniel Battsek. A twenty person staff will be consolidated into the Los Angeles operations. The iconic Miramax grabbed on Oscar in best picture for “No Country for Old Men” only eighteen months ago.
Miramax, a division of Walt Disney Studios, has minimized its film releasing schedule to three a year. The belt tightening can also be felt over at Disney who is still sweeping up the fairy dust after experiencing its own executive musical chairs when Rich Ross was named studio chief in place of outgoing CEO Bob Iger.
The well-respected Battsek joined Miramax in 2005 taking over the reins from departing chairmen and co-founding brothers Harvey and Bob Weinstein. Battsek will work with Ross during the transition and will step down officially effective the end of January, 2010.
In an email to indieWIRE, Battsek stated, “I’m very proud of all the great work we have accomplished here at Miramax and equally proud of my overall career at Disney.”
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