Former Weinstein Company exec joins recently relaunched distributor.

Ben Friedman, formerly acquisitions vp for The Weinstein Company, has joined Icon Film Distribution (IFD) as acquisitions manager with immediate effect.

It marks the latest senior hire by IFD since its backing by New Sparta last autumn and the launch last month of its first slate of films for UK release.

During his time with TWC, Friedman’s acquisitions included 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 UK film production venture, Native State Productions.

Icon was re-launched last autumn by CEO Ian Dawson and executive chairman and COO Norman Humphrey.

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

Upcoming releases include Next Goal Wins, directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison; Cold In July, directed by Jim Mickle and starring Michael C Hall, Don Johnson and Sam Shepard; Laggies, directed by Lynn Shelton and starring Keira Knightley, Sam Rockwell and Chloë Grace Moretz; The Guest, directed by Adam Wingard and starring Dan Stevens; The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent and starring Essie Davis; The Last Five Years, directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Anna Kendrick; Kill The Trumpet Player directed by and starring Don Cheadle.

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