MUMBAI: One of the prominent film companies in Hollywood, Miramax Films has laid-off 65 of its 485 employees. The middle management and lower-levels staffers in the publicity, marketing and production areas were shown the door.

Miramax has been having a strained relationship with its parent company Walt Disney Company. While Disney has downright given Miramax the loser's tag, founders and co-chairmen of Miramax -- Harvey and Bob Weinstein -- have asked Disney to quote a sum so that they can buy back the studio.

According to media reports, company COO Rick Sands, who still has more than a year left on his contract, is expected to leave Miramax in the coming months.

As Hollywood's awards season about to unfold, Miramax is working on ten projects including Lasse Hallstrom's An Unfinished Life, with Jennifer Lopez, Robert Redford, Josh Lucas, and Morgan Freeman, The Aviator starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, with Alan Alda, Alec Baldwin, Kate Beckinsale, and Cate Blanchett, Shona Auerbach's Dear Frankie starring Emily Mortimer and Marc Forster's Finding Neverland starring Johnny Depp, add reports.