Cineflix breathes Life into acquisitions

UK distributor Cineflix Rights has appointed a former ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE) exec to the newly created role of head of acquisitions as it expands its third-party content slate.

Richard Life

Richard Life will oversee acquisitions as the company looks to ramp up its content offering by striking producer partnerships, development agreements and first-look deals and entering coproductions.

Life will be based in London and will report to Chris Bonney, CEO of rights at Cineflix Media. His remit includes overseeing the global acquisitions team, which comprises Kate Laffey, VP of acquisitions; Catherine McCormick, manager of acquisitions; and Giuliana Benvenuto, manager of acquisitions, North America. The company is also looking to recruit a VP of acquisitions in North America.

Life’s previous roles include head of acquisitions and coproductions at ITVSGE and head of programming at Channel 4 International.

Bonney said Life would bring “a wealth of commercial and creative experience” that would “position us for further growth in our unscripted and scripted portfolios.”

Life added: “This is an exciting opportunity, as Cineflix Rights is able to offer producer partners an enhanced range of deals, including an increase in our deficit financing and co-financing activity.”