Fox Searchlight Pictures news: Claudia Lewis to exit post as president

Claudia Lewis, the decade-long production president of Fox Searchlight Pictures, is stepping down from her post on May 23 after 21 years with the company. During her tenure, she saw film successes like "The Black Swan," "Birdman," and "Wild," and has looked after more than 50 films.

Her upcoming departure from the company was announced by the film distributor's presidents, Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley, on Tuesday, Feb 15, as reported by Variety. Gilula and Utley thanked and praised Lewis during the announcement for her pioneering role in shaping the independent film powerhouse that Fox Searchlight Pictures has become.

Among the other celebrated productions of Searchlight overseen by Lewis are films "The Descendants," "The Last King of Scotland," "127 Hours," and "500 Days of Summer." 

The company expressed their warm wishes to Lewis' future success. Lewis, for her part, said during the announcement that she is excited to embrace the new challenges in the next chapter of her career. Before joining Fox's specialty film division, she served as Avenue Pictures' production president and was also vice president of production at Addis-Wechsler.

Searchlight executive vice presidents David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield are to act as department heads after Lewis' exit, and will assume responsibilities for the production department of the company, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Insiders suggested that Lewis may have accepted a buyout in relation to the intention of 20th Century Fox, Searchlight's mother company, to save millions of dollars before the start of its fiscal year in July. It reportedly expects the resignation of several TV executives starting first week of February.