Lionsgate Names New Sales Agents, Unveils MIPCOM Highlights

CANNES: Lionsgate, which is presenting a variety of titles in Cannes, has appointed Faruk Alatan and Gabriella Ballabio as its exclusive sales agents in Italy.

In their new roles, Alatan and Ballabio will represent the company's current catalogue of 30 television programs on 20 networks in the U.S., as well as new shows going forward to Italy. Over the past two years, Lionsgate's global distribution for television programming has increased to include more than 1,000 episodes.

"As we continue to build our roster of programming, we're pleased to appoint established and experienced local agents who are fully conversant with the Italian marketplace to handle our growing catalogue," said Peter Iacono, the managing director of international at Lionsgate. "Faruk and Gabriella are ideally qualified to represent us in Italy, and they will bring to the Italian market a number of brand new shows, including the recently announced four-hour scripted miniseries Houdini as well as returning award-winning dramas.”

Ballabio and Alatan added, "We are really proud to become part of the Lionsgate family. Lionsgate has proved to be one of the most innovative, creative and talented production companies in the market and we're very happy to join this wonderful distribution team."

This MIPCOM Lionsgate is showcasing Houdini, a miniseries starring Adrien Brody and Kristen Connolly that is co-produced for the History Channel by Lionsgate and A+E Studios. The company is also offering up the comedies Satisfaction, Weeds, Anger Management, the dramas Mad Men, Nashville and Chasing Life, and the new hit dramedy Orange is the New Black.