Focus Features Creates Global Entity

Focus Features announced Wednesday that it is creating a new international division to boost the foreign sales of its specialty pictures.  Focus Features Intl. will include Universal's international production operation, and will be overseen by Focus Features CEO James Schamus and Christian Grass, who heads international production. The move is meant to strengthen the international market for the smaller, niche movies produced by Focus at a time when specialty divisions at the major studios are struggling or have closed altogether. Focus said the unit will reinforce its relationships with emerging filmmakers. Last year, films from the two divisions grossed more than $350 million worldwide. The announcement of the merger came a day before the company's acquisition teams headed to the Sundance Film Festival. "This global company gives filmmakers one-stop shopping with a more global focus," Schamus said.