Sally Caplan appointed new head of UK Film Council's Premiere Fund

Sally Caplan, President of Icon Film Distribution (IFD), has been appointed as the new Head of the UK Film Council’s Premiere Fund.
Caplan will take up her position as Head of the £8 million-a-year production fund as soon as possible.
Financed through the UK Film Council’s share of National Lottery proceeds, the Premiere Fund is the single largest public source of film production finance in the UK, with a mission to invest in popular films that offer entertainment to the widest possible audiences both in the UK and worldwide.
Caplan will run the Premiere Fund for an initial two years with an option to extend for two further years. She will work alongside the Head of the New Cinema Fund Paul Trijbits and Development Fund Head Jenny Borgars.
Prior to heading up IFD, the UK distribution entity of Icon Entertainment, her roles included Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Affairs at Momentum Pictures (2000 to 2004), Senior Vice President of Worldwide Acquisitions, Polygram International/UIP (1998 to 2000), and Vice President of Acquisitions and Business Affairs, Polygram Filmed Entertainment (UK) Limited (1993 to 1998).
Announcing the appointment John Woodward, Chief Executive of the UK Film Council, said: “Sally is an exceptional executive chosen from an extremely strong field. Her experience in acquisitions and development, and her range of contacts make her an extremely valuable asset. Sally will also bring a more acquisitions based approach in keeping with the evolution of the fund.
“Sally joins our two existing valued and extremely successful production heads in Paul Trijbits and Jenny Borgars. Her arrival completes an incredibly strong team.”
Commenting on her appointment, Sally Caplan said: “I'm really excited by the challenge ahead of me. It's a wrench to leave Icon but the opportunity to run the Premiere Fund was just too interesting to turn down.”
Previous Premiere Fund investments include 'Gosford Park', 'Mike Bassett: England Manager', 'The Importance of Being Earnest', 'Ladies in Lavender', 'Creep', 'Vera Drake', and the soon-to-be released British animation 'Valiant'.
(GB/CD)