Federation hires Kwanza & Superights to bolster distribution, Isabella Barsumian exits

Ilan Sarfati

French prodco Federation has landed execs from Kwanza and Superights to bolster its distribution team, with Isabella Barsumian departing.

Ilan Sarfati becomes international sales manager for documentaries and joins from specialist factual producer/distributor Kwanza, where he held the same position.

Federation said the role had been created following “significant growth” of its documentary catalogue, which has been expanding thanks to the launch of Myriam Weil’s doc division in 2019.

The group is also home to producers Isabelle Dagnac, Laetitia Recayte (Lapinxa Production), Thorunn Anspach and Olivier Brémond (Mercer Productions), and Yann Arthus-Bertrand (Hope Production), while it partnered with producer Frédéric Fougea in 2021 to forge joint label Boréales Federation.

Sarfati will work with Raphaël Blin, who has been upped from sales & acquisitions coordinator for docs to become junior sales executive, and Jérômine Ader de la Villardière, who joins from Superights to become international sales manager for drama and kids in Lat Am, Spain, Portugal and the Middle East.

She replaces Isabella Barsumian, who is leaving the company after five years. Her next move is not yet known. Sarfati and Ader will report to Sarah Zarka, head of international sales.