Jere Hausfater is the Chief Executive Officer of Essential Entertainment, a development, production and worldwide sales and distribution company formed in January 2007. He oversees development, production, sales, distribution and marketing.
Prior to Essential, Hausfater joined Miramax International in 2003 and served as Executive Vice President overseeing international theatrical distribution, marketing, sales, home video, television, and international business affairs. He was also in charge of the Los Angeles office of Miramax and a member of the worldwide acquisition group. Under his watch, Miramax sold and launched such films as Cold Mountain, Starsky & Hutch, Scary Movie 3, Spy Kids 3, Kill Bill Vol. 1, & 2, Shall We Dance, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Sin City, Amityville Horror, The Brothers Grimm, Garden State, and Hero.
Previously, Hausfater was President of the Motion Picture Group and Worldwide Distribution and Acquisitions at Intermedia Films where he led worldwide sales, distribution, marketing and acquisitions. While at Intermedia, Hausfater achieved in excess of $300 million in worldwide film sales while overseeing the marketing and distribution of such films as K19: The Widowmaker, Resident Evil, Adaptation, K-Pax, Enigma, The Life and Death of David Gale, The Wedding Planner, Iris, The Quiet American, Basic, Dark Blue, and Terminator 3.
Hausfater served as Executive Vice President of Acquisitions, Sales and Business Affairs for Buena Vista International/Buena Vista Film Sales/Buena Vista Home Video at Disney from 1988 to 2000 where he was responsible for the worldwide acquisition and sale of theatrical motion pictures, children’s and non-theatrical programming. Hausfater was also the international liaison between the studio and Miramax.
While at Disney, Hausfater started the first in-house studio theatrical sales company, Buena Vista Film Sales, selling studio and third-party theatrical films. During his tenure, he bought and sold distribution rights for over 300 films including: The Piano, Snake Eyes, Face Off, Il Postino, The Ice Storm, Pulp Fiction, Air Force One, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Die Hard With A Vengeance, Dances With Wolves, Koyla, The Hurricane, Sleepers, 13 Days, Kundun, Son of Sam, Runaway Bride, 3 Ninjas and Shine.
Prior to Disney, Hausfater held various business affairs and executive positions at Media Home Entertainment/Heron Communications, ABC Records, United Artists/Blue Note Records, MCA Records and K-Tel Entertainment. Hausfater received his law degree from Southwestern University, and a member of Southwestern’s Law Review and holds a degree in Business Administration from Boston University. Hausfater served on the board for IFTA (previously AFMA) for two consecutive terms. He is a member of the Executive branch of the Academy and Motion Picture Arts and a professor in Los Angeles for the School of Management, Boston University.
