MUMBAI: On the eve of the Cannes Film Festival and Marche du Film, LongTale founder Omar Kaczmarczyk announced that industry veteran Mark Austin has joined LongTale International as VP international sales. Additionally, LongTale has also announced the expansion of its production division.

“I am delighted to have Mark represent LongTale’s diverse slate of indie films. Mark has the knowledge and enthusiasm for success in the changing world of independent distribution,” said Kaczmarczyk.

“I greatly admire Omar’s dedication to the best of independent film worldwide. We have movies spanning the globe, from Venezuela (El Señor Presidente) to Tibet (Prince of the Himalayas),” added Austin. Austin is formerly head of sales at Capitol Films/TH!NK Film International and director of distribution for Intermedia Film.

Kaczmarczyk siad, “With Mark on board to sell our global library, I am focused on new projects to provide a steady stream of quality projects suited to the new international multimedia entertainment marketplace and its many platforms.”

Kaczmarczyk will personally take to Cannes the pre-production project Blood, based on the DC/Vertigo graphic novel by J. M. DeMatteis and Kent Williams, the story follows a young boy from his mysterious birth to his transformation into the vampire called Blood.