Studiocanal’s The Copyrights Group Bolsters Exec Team

Studiocanal subsidiary The Copyrights Group, which handles merchandising and licensing business for parent company IPs such as Paddington, has appointed Sissel Henno to the new position of Head of Global Sales – Licensing and Retail. Henno will lead commercial strategy on licensing and merchandising programs in the UK and EMEA, through to a global scale, and as well as oversee retail operations, including the Paddington store at Paddington Station in London. She previously worked with licensors such as The Walt Disney Company and SEGA. In other staffing news, Paris-based Benoît Jaubert, former Head of Digital Sales at Studiocanal, has been appointed VP Sales. Reporting to Henno, he will sell licensing and merchandising rights in France and oversee Copyrights’ agents in Europe, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Along with long-term Copyrights executives Polly Emery (SVP Brand & International Sales) and Rachel Clarke (SVP UK – Licensing & Retail in the UK), The Copyrights Group now has a team of four senior executives. “I am thrilled to be joining the highly-experienced Copyrights Group team… The imminent opening of the Paddington London Experience and launch of the highly-anticipated third movie, Paddington in Peru, later this year are two exceptional opportunities for our company,” said Henno.

NTR Jr.’s Devara: Part 1 Secures North Indian Distribution

Indian Telugu picture Devara: Part 1 has found backing for its North Indian distribution from veteran Indian producer Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Raazi) and Anil Thadani’s AA Films. The movie stars Telugu actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Jr. (popularly known as NTR Jr./Tarak), who shot to global prominence for his role as Komaram Bheem in S.S. Rajamouli’s Academy Award-nominated RRR. Written and directed by Koratala Siva, Devara: Part 1 is described as an “epic action saga set against coastal lands”. The cast also features Bollywood stars Jahnvi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan as well as Malayalam cinema actor Shine Tom Chacko. Tamil composer Anirudh Ravichander (Why This Kolaveri Di) will create the soundtrack for the film. Devara is produced by Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts. Devara: Part 1 will hit theatres in October 2024.