The new production company, Optimism, is being officially launched in Cannes.

Producers Mish Armstrong, Alicia Brown and Melanie Coombs [pictured] have joined forces to create a new UK and Australian film production company, Optimism.

The new company is being officially launched in Cannes, with a slate including girls caper movie XLR8, family action adventure The Road Home, period revenge drama By Any Other Name and The Sleeper about the psychology of a suicide bomber.

Coombs is a Melbourne and London based producer for Melodrama Pictures, which was behind the award winning animation Mary And Max.

Melbourne based producer Mish Armstrong is developing features including Sleeper with writer/director Fin Fdquist, whilst London based Alicia Brown recently produced her first feature Honeymooner, which premiered at the 2010 Edinburgh Film Festival and was released in the UK by Soda.

 “Weʼve created Optimism because we really want to enjoy creative collaboration and make inspired films in both Australia and the UK” said Brown. “We believe film making should be creative, professional, fun and optimistic.” added Mish Armstrong.

“At Cannes we will be presenting our united slate and our new attitude,” said Coombs “and we are bringing great UK and Australian writing, directing and acting talent to market.”