Nat Geo alum to head Film4

Daniel Battsek

UK broadcaster Channel 4 has appointed a former president of National Geographic Films to replace David Kosse, the outgoing director of its feature film division.

Daniel Battsek will join the corporation as director of Film4 after it was announced last week that Kosse would be stepping down to join film and TV studio STX Entertainment.

Battsek will join Film4 in July, relocating to the UK from New York after fulfilling his contract as president of Cohen Media Group (CMG).

Kosse will continue working for Film4 during the transition period on a consultancy basis until October, having joined the company from Universal Pictures in 2014.

Prior to joining CMG, Battsek spent two years as president of National Geographic Films and before that was president fo filmed entertainment at Miramax Films.

Channel 4 CEO David Abraham said: “Daniel Battsek’s passion for independent, filmmaker-driven cinema and experience in film production, development and distribution at the highest level in both the US and UK markets are second to none.”

In recent years Film4 has developed and co-financed features such as 12 Years a Slave, Slumdog Millionaire, Room, Ex Machina and Amy.