Avy Eschenasy

Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning, Business Affairs and Acquisitions, Focus Features

Avy Eschenasy is Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning, Business Affairs and Acquisitions for Focus Features. Focus Features (www.focusfeatures.com) is a singular global company, dedicated to producing, acquiring, financing, selling, and distributing original and daring films from emerging and established filmmakers – films that challenge mainstream moviegoers to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world that deliver global commercial success. The company operates as Focus Features in North America, and as Focus Features International (FFI) in the rest of the world. Mr. Eschenasy, based in the company’s West Coast offices, has been at Focus since it was formed in May 2002.



Mr. Eschenasy reports to Focus CEO James Schamus and works closely with Focus President Andrew Karpen on strategic planning for Focus and FFI. The latter includes overseeing the company’s business plans, financial modeling, and growth strategies. He serves as co-head of the Focus Features Business Affairs department with Howard Meyers, Executive Vice President, Business Affairs. The company’s Business Affairs departments in Focus’ Manhattan and West Coast offices report to Mr. Eschenasy and Mr. Meyers  regarding all aspects of the film slates at Focus.



Mr. Eschenasy joined Focus at its inception as Executive Vice President, Business Affairs. He added his current responsibilities in June 2006. Immediately prior to the company’s formation, he was Executive Vice President, Business Affairs at USA Films, based in that company’s Manhattan offices.



He had joined USA Films during its inception in the spring of 1999. Mr. Eschenasy had previously been Senior Vice President of Business Affairs at October Films, a position he had held since September 1997. Prior to joining October, he was Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at New Line Cinema.



Before joining New Line in 1992, Mr. Eschenasy worked at the law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle in New York City. He graduated from Columbia Law School in 1991; and from Harvard College (in 1988).



Among the many notable film projects that he has been integral to supervising and finalizing the dealmaking process on are such Academy Award-winning films as Brokeback Mountain (Focus’ all-time top-grosser, with $180 million worldwide), The Constant Gardener, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Motorcycle Diaries, Lost in Translation, The Pianist, Milk, Atonement, Gosford Park, Traffic, and Topsy-Turvy; and such hits as The Mask and Boogie Nights.