Film PR: Film4 Appoints Sam Lavender As Head Of Development.

LONDON, Monday 26th October 2009: Sam Lavender, Development Executive at Film4 has been promoted to the position of Head of Development, replacing Katherine Butler who was recently appointed Senior Commissioning Executive at Film4.

Lavender will work closely with Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama and Butler to ensure the current slate of film projects moves forward into production. He will also work with directors, writers and producers across the British film industry to help create distinctive and original new feature projects for the Film4 slate.

In his development executive role, Lavender has worked across the Film4 production and development slate since June 2006. Film4’s recent releases include Slumdog Millionaire, Happy Go Lucky, Looking For Eric, How To Lose Friends and Alienate People and upcoming releases include Never Let Me Go, The Lovely Bones, Bunny and the Bull, and Eagle of the Ninth. Prior to joining Film4, Lavender was Head of Development for London-based Film & Music Entertainment.

Commenting on the appointment, Tessa Ross, Controller of Film4 and Channel 4 Drama, said: “I congratulate Sam on this promotion. He’s been a wonderful development executive and I have no doubt he’ll bring fantastic energy and vigour to building our slate in his new job.”

About Film4
Film4, headed by Tessa Ross, is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. The company develops and co-finances film productions and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established. Film4 is a founding partner of the Warp X digital studio. Film4’s latest release was Ken Loach’s Cannes competition film, Looking for Eric. Other 2009 releases include Danny Boyle’s, Slumdog Millionaire; Steve McQueen’s Hunger; Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges; Mike Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky and Michael Winterbottom’s Genova. Upcoming Film4 releases include Paul King’s Bunny and the Bull; Xiaolu Guo’s She, A Chinese, winner of the Golden Leopard at Locarno Film Festival earlier this year; Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones; Chris Morris’ Four Lions and Sam Taylor Wood’s Nowhere Boy. Currently completing post production are Kevin Macdonald’s Eagle of the Ninth; Mark Romanek’s Never Let Me Go; Peter Mullan’s Neds, Hideo Nakata’s Chat Room and Mike Leigh’s 09 Project.

Press contact:
Debra Johnson Taylor Herring PR
020 8206 5151