Blue Fox opens Canadian branch ahead of Toronto Film Festival

Blue Fox Entertainment, James Huntsman’s independent film distribution and sales company, has hired Dave Hudakoc and Ian Goggins to open an office in Canada just in time for the Toronto Film Festival, which begins September 5.

Former levelFILM co-founder Dave Hudakoc will lead Blue Fox Entertainment Canada as president and partner, while Ian Goggins, former executive vice president of global home entertainment at Entertainment One, joins as executive vice president, it was announced at the start of the Venice Film Festival.

“Expanding our presence into Canada has been a strategic goal for Blue Fox Entertainment for many years and we have finally found the right partner in Dave Hudakoc,” said Huntsman, head of Blue Fox Entertainment, in a statement on Wednesday. Hudakoc and Goggins will work with U.S.-based Blue Fox to bring indie films to Canadian and international audiences.

“With the ever-increasing volume of high-quality films in the independent space, there is no better time to establish Blue Fox Entertainment Canada as part of the Blue Fox Entertainment family,” Hudakoc added in his own statement.

Blue Fox Entertainment Canada will focus on the acquisition and distribution of feature films, documentaries and television series that draw on the resources and creativity of independent Canadian producers and international partners.

Blue Fox’s most recent international sales titles include The panicwith Cary Elwes, Malcolm McDowell, Justin Chatwin and Cristiana Dell’Anna; Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universeproduced by Lin-Manuel Miranda; Space curiosityDirector: Kyra Sedgwick; and OneWinterwith Julian Dennison, Minnie Driver and James Rolleston.

The company’s upcoming US releases include the animated film Kensuke’s Kingdom, with Cillian Murphy, Sally Hawkins, Ken Watanabe and Aaron MacGregor; and the coming-of-age dramedy for young adults Empire Waistwith Mia Kaplan, Rainn Wilson, Missi Pyle and Jemima Yevu.