Jeremy Baxter joins Pinewood Pictures

Protagonist Pictures head of acquisitions Jeremy Baxter is to join UK production outfit Pinewood Pictures as head of acquisitions and development.

Baxter will join the production arm of the Pinewood Studios Group, run by Former CinemaNX chairman Steve Christian, in late April.

The addition of the executive is a coup for Pinewood, which to date has backed productions including Crispian Mills’ A Fantastic Fear Of Everything, Amma Asante’s period-drama Belle and Richard Shepard’s Dom Hemingway, and is now looking to ramp its production activities.

Parent company Pinewood Studios manages the multi-million pound Isle of Man Film Fund and was recently appointed as advisor to the Welsh government on their new film and TV investment pool.

London-based sales outfit Protagonist has yet to announce how it will fill the role vacated by Baxter, who joined the company shortly after its launch in 2008, working on titles including Submarine, Kill List, StreetDance 3D, Monsters, In The Loop and Searching for Sugar Man.

Recent Protagonist acquisitions during the executive’s tenure include Yann Demange’s ‘71, John Michael McDonough’s Calvary, and Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank.

Prior to working at Protagonist, Baxter was worldwide acquisitions manager at Universal Pictures International.

Steve Christian, director of Pinewood Pictures, said: “Pinewood Pictures is delighted that Jeremy has decided to join us as head of acquisitions and development.

“As our presence in film finance continues to grow there is an ever increasing need to be at the forefront of the industry and Jeremy’s links with both established and emerging talent will be a huge addition to the Pinewood Pictures team.”

Mike Goodridge, Protagonist CEO, commented: “Jeremy has been at Protagonist for six years and has been a key part of the company’s growth. While we are sad to lose him, we think Pinewood represents a great opportunity for his career and wish him the very best of luck.”