Latest in Universal Pictures International

EXCLUSIVE: As Universal solidifies the transition of Universal Pictures International's headquarters to Los Angeles, the studio has now made some final executive shifts. Niels Swinkels, EVP International Distribution, has been promoted to EVP and MD for UPI. At the same time, a new EMEA hub has been established to…

EXCLUSIVE: Universal executive Xavier Albert, who has been Managing Director for France since 2016, is taking on a dual-market role with the studio and will also become Managing Director for Italy. Albert will take over the MD Italy post from Richard Borg who is retiring in July after 30 years with the Universal Pictur…

EXCLUSIVE: Amazon and Universal have boarded UK rights to soccer documentary Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In about the iconic former Manchester United manager. The anticipated film heralds from blue chip UK firms DNA Films, known for Oscar-winning movies The Last King of Scotland and Ex Machina, and Passion Pictures…

Focus Features and Universal Pictures International have acquired international rights to Waves, the new Trey Edward Shults movie that had its world premiere at Telluride and is now at the Toronto Film Festival. The deal marks a familiar path for Focus and A24, the film’s North American distributor. Two years ago, the…

EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures has appointed former Fox executive Patricia Kamitsuji Managing Director of the studio's operating company in the key Brazil market. The position will report to Mauricio Duran, Universal Pictures International's SVP of Latin America. Kamitsuji has had a career spanning more than two…

EXCLUSIVE: Focus Features has taken a shine to Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse, the fantasy horror that premieres in Directors’ Fortnight on Sunday. Focus acquired and Universal Pictures International will distribute the film worldwide, except for in North America where, as previously announced, A24 is releasing. A24…

The Crawley family and their servants are back at work as filming kicks off for the feature film spin-off of Downton Abbey. Star Michelle Dockery, who plays Lady Mary, posted a black and white shot, via Instagram, that appears to show her in her traditional garb. A few other details have also started to emerge about…

Focus Features has set a May 18, 2018 domestic release for Wim Wenders’ documentary, Pope Francis – A Man of His Word. The film is a rare co-production with the Vatican, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and the pope addressing his audience directly, answering questions on life, death, social justice…

EXCLUSIVE: Veteran Universal executive Jack Ledwith is set to retire at the end of the year. Currently Senior Vice President and Managing Director of International Distribution, Ledwith has been at Universal for 21 years and worked in film distribution for 42. Prior to joining Uni in 1996, he held positions at Avco…

Universal Pictures International has set Xavier Albert as Managing Director of its French operating company. He will take over the role previously held by Stephane Huard, who is leaving the company to pursue another opportunity, according to UPI president of distribution Duncan Clark. Albert was most recently…

Former Weinstein Company exec Robert Walak has joined Universal Pictures International Productions as co-managing director alongside Los Angeles-based managing director Peter Kujawski. Deadline confirmed the news last week after we broke Walak’s ankling from TWC and were asked to hold while the exec took a few days…

After setting records for the fastest climb to $2B and then $3B at the international box office, it was just a matter of time before Universal Pictures International set yet another benchmark. With recent titles like Minions and Jurassic World still making waves overseas, and with last week’s receipts factored in…