Ben Friedman Joins U.K.’s Icon Film Distribution as Head of Acquisitions

LONDON — The re-birthed Icon Film Distribution, which returned to the U.K. arena in 2014 buoyed by backing from Jerome Booth‘s private investment group New Sparta, has brought in former Weinstein Company exec Ben Friedman.

Friedman, a former vp, acquisitions at the U.S. indie, has joined Icon as acquisitions manager.

Friedman will be tasked with helping ramp up Icon’s slate as it continues to re-establish its distribution business.

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During his time at TWC and Miramax Films, Friedman was involved in a slew of high profile buys including Tom Hooper’s Oscar-winning The King’s Speech, Sam Taylor-Wood’s Nowhere Boy and Anton Corbijn’s Control.

In 2010 Friedman left TWC to consult on acquisitions for Newmarket Films and the Exclusive Media Group amongst others.

Two years ago he co-founded and became a producer partner in the U.K. film production venture, Native State Productions.

Icon re-launched last autumn with CEO Ian Dawson and executive chairman and COO Norman Humphrey leading the company.

IFD’s first theatrical release slate under its new incarnation includes Don Cheadle‘s directorial debut Kill The Trumpet Player about jazz legend Miles Davis.

Also slated for upcoming release is Next Goal Wins, a documentary directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison and Cold in July, directed by Jim Mickle and starring Michael C Hall, Don Johnson and Sam Shepard.

Dawson described Friedman’s experience “at the sharp-end of international acquisitions, instinct for finding exciting film projects and relationships with filmmaking talent” as a good fit for Icon “as we grow the business and seek involvement in projects in the earliest stages of production.”