Former Legendary Exec Deborah Kaufmann Joins Sipur Studios as Global Content Chief
Former Legendary Entertainment exec Deborah Kaufmann has joined Sipur Studios as its new chief of global content. The position is new for the studio, which recently added former Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone as part of its management team as chair.
At Sipur, Kaufmann will handle development projects, as well as finding IP for the studio, acquisitions and creative partnerships in film, TV and publishing.
Kaufmann previously served as senior VP of literary affairs at Legendary, overseeing IP acquisitions for its film and TV divisions, along with its European joint ventures. Projects she bought in included “Alchemised,” and Annie Jacobsen’s “Nuclear War” (for filmmaker Denis Villeneuve).
“Whether in publishing or in film and television, Deborah’s career has been defined by identifying exceptional stories and the people behind them, and ensuring those stories travel powerfully across borders,” Sipur CEO Emilio Schenker said in a statement. “She is an extraordinary addition to our studio. Deborah brings to us unmatched talent, achievement and industry stature, and with her addition to our team we have gained tremendous strength in realizing our broader ambition of becoming a significant global film and television studio.”
Recent Sipur projects include Netflix’s “Bad Boy,” the medical thriller “Heart of a Killer,” the Emmy-winning doc feature “We Will Dance Again,” the docuseries “Munich ’72” and the World War II series “Etty.” Film projects include Paul Schrader’s “Oh Canada,” the Marc Maron doc “Are We Good?” and the Cristin Milioti horror feature “Buddy.”
“Sipur has cemented its place in the industry as a destination studio for some of the most brilliant creative minds in storytelling today, and I am thrilled to join former Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone, Emilio and their stellar team at such a pivotal moment,” Kaufman said. “I look forward to building on these impressive achievements and bringing my deep commitment to cross-cultural storytelling to further champion the company’s bold and original work, which has already positioned Sipur as a true tastemaker on the global stage.”
At Sipur, Kaufmann will handle development projects, as well as finding IP for the studio, acquisitions and creative partnerships in film, TV and publishing.
Kaufmann previously served as senior VP of literary affairs at Legendary, overseeing IP acquisitions for its film and TV divisions, along with its European joint ventures. Projects she bought in included “Alchemised,” and Annie Jacobsen’s “Nuclear War” (for filmmaker Denis Villeneuve).
“Whether in publishing or in film and television, Deborah’s career has been defined by identifying exceptional stories and the people behind them, and ensuring those stories travel powerfully across borders,” Sipur CEO Emilio Schenker said in a statement. “She is an extraordinary addition to our studio. Deborah brings to us unmatched talent, achievement and industry stature, and with her addition to our team we have gained tremendous strength in realizing our broader ambition of becoming a significant global film and television studio.”
Recent Sipur projects include Netflix’s “Bad Boy,” the medical thriller “Heart of a Killer,” the Emmy-winning doc feature “We Will Dance Again,” the docuseries “Munich ’72” and the World War II series “Etty.” Film projects include Paul Schrader’s “Oh Canada,” the Marc Maron doc “Are We Good?” and the Cristin Milioti horror feature “Buddy.”
“Sipur has cemented its place in the industry as a destination studio for some of the most brilliant creative minds in storytelling today, and I am thrilled to join former Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone, Emilio and their stellar team at such a pivotal moment,” Kaufman said. “I look forward to building on these impressive achievements and bringing my deep commitment to cross-cultural storytelling to further champion the company’s bold and original work, which has already positioned Sipur as a true tastemaker on the global stage.”