Editor

Protagonist Pictures has appointed Charlotte Lopez as International Sales Manager, it was announced today by CEO Dave Bishop. Lopez fills the position previously held by George Hamilton who has been promoted to Director of International Sales. The two executives will report to Managing Director, Sales & Distribution Vanessa Saal, who recently led the Protagonist sales team through a very successful AFM.

Lopez joins Protagonist from the Seville International Sales team at eOne, where she handled sales on Drake Dormeus’ Sundance official selection Newness, Xavier Dolan’s Cannes Grand Prix winner It’s Only The End of the World and Francois Girard’s  Toronto International Film Festival official selection Hochelaga, which is Canada’s Academy Award selection for Best Foreign Language Film 2018. She brings with her a wealth of international and sales experience having previously held sales roles at Picturehouse Entertainment Ltd and Studiocanal.

Lopez completed her Masters in Marketing, Advertising and Communication at the Paris Sorbonne University in 2009 and a Specialized Masters in Film Distribution at the National Film School (FEMIS) in 2011, where her thesis on International Sales and Acquisition Strategies garnered her a Special Mention.

Hamilton has been promoted after an incredibly successful year, closing UK and US deals on Clio Barnard’s 2017 Toronto International Film Festival Official Selection Dark River, key international territories for Michel Franco’s 2017 Un Certain Regard winner April’s Daughter, Sean Baker’s The Florida Project and Chloe Zhao’s 2017 Directors’ Fortnight Art Cinema Award winner The Rider. He was named one of Screen International’s Future Leaders 2017: Sales and Acquisitions.

This most recent promotion marks a linear ascension at the company for the high-performing Hamilton who joined Protagonist as a Sales Assistant in 2013 and was promoted to International Sales Manager in 2016.

Managing Director, Sales & Distribution Vanessa Saal said, "I'm thrilled that Charlotte has joined our team. Charlotte's creative sensibilities, relationships, and dedication make her a perfect fit for our filmmaker focused and commercially minded slate. I'm equally delighted to formally recognize George's outstanding and tireless work. It's been an incredible year for Protagonist, and we look forward to another one with this new team."

The expansion of the sales ranks comes at a pivotal moment for the international sales, finance and production company whose slate includes Sean Baker’s critically acclaimed drama The Florida Project, William Oldroyd’s 15-time BIFA nominated Lady Macbeth, and the Finnish Academy Award Best Foreign Language candidate Tom of Finland.

ABOUT PROTAGONIST PICTURES

Protagonist Pictures is an international finance, production and sales company which has a proven track record in outstanding films and commercial successes. Based in the UK, the company handles films from around the world, always maintaining a strong focus on filmmakers with exceptional vision and storytelling skills.

Protagonist’s current successes on release around the world include Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire with its ensemble cast of Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, Sharlto Copley and Jack Reynor; Charlie McDowell’s The Discovery with Rooney Mara, Jason Segel and Robert Redford, William Oldroyd’s Lady Macbeth and Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country. Other titles include the 2017 Directors’ Fortnight Art Cinema Award Winner The Rider from Chloé Zhao to be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, The Florida Project from Sean Baker distributed by A24, 2017 Un Certain Regard Grand Jury Prize winner April’s Daughter from writer, director, producer Michel Franco and Toronto International Film Festival 2017 Official Selections Beast, from writer/director Michael Pearce, and Clio Barnard’s Dark River starring Ruth Wilson.

Currently in post-production are Vita & Virginia starring Gemma Arterton and Elizabeth Debicki, Richard Loncraine’s Finding Your Feet to be released by Roadside Attractions, Amma Asante’s Where Hands Touch, Kristoffer Nyholm’s Keepers, Pawel Pawlikowski’s Cold War, which will be distributed by Amazon Studios, and The Souvenir from Executive Producer Martin Scorsese directed by Joanna Hogg. Currently in pre-production are Paramour, directed by Alexandra-Therese Keining and starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Gypsy Boy starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Off Season starring Jon Hamm from the producers of Baby Driver and The Shape of Water and Hope Gap starring Annette Bening and Bill Nighy. Currently in production are the zombie comedy Little Monsters starring Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o and Josh Gad and Juan Cabral’s Two/One starring Boyd Holbrook.