EXCLUSIVE: XYZ Films has promoted the executive to director of sales on the eve of Toronto, where the company’s films in various capacities include Tusk, The Dead Lands, Tokyo Tribe, Electric Boogaloo, Spring and The Editor.

Katz, who was profiled last summer as a Screen International Future Leader of sales and distribution, has been with the company since 2013 and is based in Los Angeles

She assumes responsibility for managing XYZ Films’ slate for European territories such as Scandinavia, Italy, Portugal, Benelux, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Greece and Iceland.

Her remit includes a swath of Asia including China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong and Asian pay-TV.

Katz will continue to work alongside XYZ partner Nate Bolotin on North American sales. 

Denmark-born Katz joined XYZ Films as an intern after graduating from UCLA and has remained there ever since. She became sales coordinator and then manager of sales.

She handled select sales on Kevin Smith’s Tusk, which will receive its world premiere in Canada on September 6, and Sundance premiere Life After Beth.

Cheryl Hebert has joined XYZ Films as director of business affairs. Hebert has a background in both law and finance and played a role in getting XYZ off the ground in 2008 when she contributed to structuring the financials.

Joe Facarion recently joined the company from Sierra/Affinity as sales coordinator. The company also hired Gabe Scarpelli as production and acquisitions coordinator. Both will work alongside Bolotin and Katz to expand the sales team.

XYZ’s existing team includes senior executive Kyle Franke as head of development, Melbourne-based Simon de Bruyn and Hong Kong-based James Marsh, who serve as XYZ’s overseas acquisitions executives, and Toronto-based marketing and distribution coordinator Mike Sherman.

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