Cinesite Taps Former Illumination Exec

MONTREAL: Visual effects and animation studio Cinesite has appointed Dave Rosenbaum, who previously worked for Illumination Entertainment (Minions), as the company’s chief creative officer.

Rosenbaum will oversee Cinesite’s next phase of growth and increasing film slate. He will help expand the company’s Montreal studio, based at its new 54,000-square-foot facility, which has room for more than 500 storytellers. He is also charged with finding and cultivating new projects, artists, writers and directors.

Rosenbaum was with Illumination since it was founded. As VP of talent, he worked on the company’s marketing, video games, theme park rides and feature films, including the animated hit Minions. He also served as production executive and story supervisor for Despicable Me 1 & 2, The Lorax, The Secret Life of Pets and the upcoming movie Sing. Earlier in his career, Rosenbaum worked for such companies as DreamWorks and Screen Imagination Agency in Bulgaria.

“Dave is one of the industry’s most highly regarded animation executives, with an impeccable track record of shaping movies that become culture phenomena,” said Antony Hunt, the president of Cinesite Animation. “Dave’s drive, passion and vision will harness a new phase of expansion for us, as he leads our studio’s growing slate.”

Rosenbaum added: “To grow our studio with impressive capacity and potential, to support talented filmmakers, and to deliver great animated films to a worldwide audience is an exciting opportunity. Let’s start with the best stories and storytellers and make Montreal the next animation nexus.”

Cinesite is currently in production on the Warner Bros. live-action feature film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Assassin’s Creed for 20th Century Fox and the animated movie Gnome Alone for 3QU Media.