Johanna Samuel

With over 25 years in the entertainment business, Johanna Samuel brings her expertise in leadership and management in the areas of Television, Film and Multiplatform Program development, International Co-productions, International Sales and Program Acquisitions.

She is currently the founder and CEO of NIGHTWOOD INTERNATIONAL established in 1999- an international television distribution company specializing in program acquisitions, foreign sales in all platforms and distribution of documentaries and lifestyle/factual programming and series worldwide.

Moving to Los Angeles from her native Toronto in 1978 Ms. Samuel began her career working for Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios as a production coordinator on such films as “One From The Heart,” “The Escape Artist,” “Hammett,” “Rumblefish”, “The Outsiders” and with New Regency Films on such films as “Once Upon A Time in America” and “The King of Comedy”.

In 1982, joined 20th Century Fox International Film Classics in International Distribution, where she worked until moving to Paris in 1984 where she lived for 11 years working in the international Television and Film industry.

Ms. Samuel has served in a variety of Executive capacities over the years including Vice President International Co-Productions, international Acquisitions and international Sales for Fox Lorber/Winstar, Revcom, Gaumont, TeleImages and as Vice President of International Acquisitions with Warner Bros. International based in both Paris and London.

Over the course of her career she has provided leadership in all aspects of programming including development, co-producing, financing, acquisitions and product sales for both domestic and international markets.

She regularly presides and participates on film and documentary juries and panels around the world at major markets, conferences and festivals.