Fox International Productions (FIP) is expanding its sales activity and has hired Shebnem Askin-Schreger formerly of Cinetic International and 2929 International as senior vice-president of sales and production finance.

Reporting to FIP president Sanford Panitch, Askin-Schreger will work out of Fox’s offices in Los Angeles and New York and oversee international sales for the local language production slate.

She will also become involved with FIP’s Indian activities at Fox Star Studios, working closely with head of sales and content distribution Rohit Sharma.

The move follows a deal earlier this summer whereby Fortissimo agreed to handle sales on select FIP projects, commencing with Michele Placido’s Italian-language Vallanzasca and Anton Barmatov’s Russian-language Alien Girl.

FIP had not elaborated at time of writing to clarify whether it would hold back select territories and continue to distribute product in those cases through Fox International.

“Shebnem’s vast experience will be a powerful asset for Fox International Productions and a great advantage for film-makers,” Panitch said.

“While Fox will continue to distribute in the primary, local territory, Shebnem’s experience in pairing films with distributors internationally is a critical piece as we grow in producing and acquiring commercial, local language films all over the world.”

Prior to Cinetic International Askin-Schreger served five years as president of 2929 International where she oversaw distribution and marketing on such films as Good Night, And Good Luck, as well as Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room, We Own the Night, and The Road.

Before that she was executive vice-president of worldwide sales for Pandora / Gaylord Films and was vice-president of international sales and co-productions for Trimark Pictures.

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