EXCLUSIVE: Appointment signals European Film Bonds ambition to establish a stronger foothold in the UK market.

Peter La Terriere, a British producer and former vp of international production for Universal Pictures, has been hired to head the London offices of European Film Bonds (EFB) - the completion guarantor for titles as Dom Hemingway, Headhunters and Nymphomaniac.

His appointment as EFB’s managing director, UK, was announced today by the company’s CEO and founder Per Neumann.

The move comes as EFB seeks to establish a stronger foothold in the UK market.

La Terriere will oversee the expansion of EFB’s presence in the English-language production sector. The company has also hired legal executive Johan Ewing, and production executive Sudie Smyth.

The Scandinavian completion guarantor whose credits also include Toronto titles Starred Up, Pioneer and Qissa as well as A Royal Affair and Kon-Tiki, was set up by Per Neumann, Nina Crone and Hans Lönnerheden in Copenhagen.

The company’s bonds are underwritten by The German Film Insurance Pool. Board members include Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick, producer Vibeke Windeløv (Breaking the Waves, Dogville and Dancer in the Dark) and entertainment lawyer, Andreas Pense. 

“EFB is expanding at a great time for film and TV production with the emergence of new finance and distribution models,” said La Terriere. 

“I believe EFB’s flexible and forward thinking approach to film bonding is perfectly suited to help with these complexities. EFB has a great track record and I look forward to enhancing their brand to help both filmmakers and financiers achieve their goals

The firm deals with full cover completion guarantees, which provides financiers with complete cover of the entire on-risk production, to low budget guarantees which provide limited risk cover for films with budgets up to €2.5m. 

La Terriere comes to EFB having overseen local territory development for Universal International in Latin America, the Far East and Russia.

He also has extensive experience as a British producer and co-producer with credits ranging from Fifty Dead Men Walking and Mutant Chronicles to Terrence Malick’s The New World.