Film and Television Studio STX Entertainment Brings John Friedberg on Board as President of International Sales

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Jul 22, 2015, 03:30 ET

BURBANK, Calif., July 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- John Friedberg has joined STX Entertainment as President of International Sales, it was announced today by Adam Fogelson, Chairman of the STX Entertainment Motion Picture Group, and Thomas McGrath, Chief Operating Officer of STX Entertainment. His hire marks the first step in a larger international strategy for the studio.

Friedberg, who joined the studio in Burbank this week, oversees all aspects of STX Entertainment's international sales strategy for the growing slate of motion pictures to be produced and distributed by STX each year. He will also develop strategic partnerships for international acquisitions.

Friedberg has developed a reputation for being an innovative executive in international distribution who has broad experience that has crossed many platforms including film production, production financing and strategy, and international sales.

For the past decade, Friedberg has overseen sales and distribution for QED International and most recently Block Entertainment. He will immediately begin to assemble an international sales team for STX Entertainment.

In making the announcement, Fogelson said, "With John's addition to STX Entertainment, we have hired one of the brightest, most promising international sales executives working in the industry today. John's tremendous understanding of all aspects of film finance and international distribution gives him unique awareness of the opportunities in the international market and he is ideally suited to capitalize on the evolving international distribution platform."

Added McGrath, "Now that we are up and running with an aggressive slate of films, navigating the international landscape and maximizing our returns overseas with the best mix of deals is critical to our business and success. We look forward to John's counsel and leadership as we identify the best possible partners for our content internationally."

Most recently, Friedberg was Executive Vice President of International Sales and Distribution for Block Entertainment. During his career at Block and QED, he developed innovative financing and global distribution strategies for films such as Fury, directed by David Ayer and starring Brad Pitt; and he worked on District 9, directed by Neill Blomkamp; and Dirty Grandpa, directed by Dan Mazer and starring Robert De Niro and Zac Efron.

ABOUT STX ENTERTAINMENT

STX Entertainment is a fully-integrated motion picture and television studio specializing in the production, marketing, and distribution of talent-driven films and television programming. The multi-platform studio is rapidly moving to include digital production and distribution, in addition to gaming. It is the first major studio to be launched at this scale in Hollywood in more than twenty years.

STX Entertainment recently announced its first four theatrical release dates. On August 7, 2015, the studio will release The Gift, a contemporary psychological thriller from Jason Blum's Blumhouse, written and directed by Joel Edgerton and starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Edgerton. Secret in Their Eyes will be released on October 23, 2015. The crime thriller is written and directed by Billy Ray and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts. On January 22, 2016, STX will release The Boy, a horror film from director William Brent Bell (The Devil Inside), written by Stacey Menear and starring Lauren Cohan ("The Walking Dead"). And March 11, 2016, brings the release of the epic action-drama The Free State of Jones, starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Keri Russell and Mahershala Ali from writer-director and 4-time Academy Award nominee Gary Ross.