Interview
The bridge builder
The veteran producer tells Jeremy Kay about his 100th film, partnering with Imagenation and why he wants to make connections between east and west
Choosing wisely
In the two years since it was founded, WestEnd Films has prospered in backing titles which have scored theatrical sales in a tough global marketplace. The principals talk to Geoffrey Macnab.
The new internationalist
With ambitious plans to build on Bavaria Film’s successful local film-production activities, the company’s head tells Martin Blaney why he believes international co-productions are the key to its future
Setting the pace
WME Global, the packaging, financing and distribution consultancy arm of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, is paying close attention to new distribution models. Jeremy Kay speaks to division head Graham Taylor and his team.
Hitting a Homerun
Daniel Yun is galvanising the Singapore film community with his latest venture — Homerun Pictures. He tell Liz Shackleton how he is setting up film funds with China and Australia and launching an international sales outfit
Passion Projects
Passion Pictures’ John Battsek and Red Box Films’ Simon Chinn talk to Sarah Cooper about their new UK producing partnership formed for Oscar winner James Marsh’s next film
A French Legende
With new films from Olivier Dahan, Roselyne Bosch and Forest Whitaker in the pipeline, Alain Goldman — one of France’s leading producers — tells Nancy Tartaglione his recipe for international film-making
From Paris with love
Paris-based EuropaCorp has cemented its early standing as one of the world’s most prolific vertically integrated film outfits. Pierre-Ange Le Pogam talks to Mike Goodridge about the company he co-founded with Luc Besson, how it has achieved global profile from a distinctively French base and its next steps
A route to funding
Rebecca O’Brien, Ken Loach’s long-time producer, says raising film financing in the UK has became complicated and expensive. She talks to Sarah Cooper about why she turned to France to fund Loach’s latest project, Route Irish.
In the loop
At a time when the BBC’s prosperous film arm is one of the UK’s only stable ports of call for independent producers, its new creative director talks to Geoffrey Macnab about her editorial and commissioning strategy and her debut slate.
The Station agents
Berlin-based producer Egoli Tossell Film has comfortably ramped up its activities to focus on $10m-$22m international films, scoring initial success this autumn with Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station. Martin Blaney reports
Hollywood Middle East
Imagenation Abu Dhabi has laid the groundwork to become a major backer of international features, striking partnerships with three well-capitalised US independents to co-finance slates of films. Chief executive Edward Borgerding and COO Stefan Brunner talk strategy with Mike Goodridge
Chile heat
Oscar-winning Spanish director Fernando Trueba unveiled his first new dramatic feature in seven years, the Chile-set The Dancer And The Thief, at San Sebastian last month. Chris Evans reports
Imax Transformed
As exhibitors and studios alike strive to make the theatrical experience one worth leaving the house for, the long-struggling Imax Corp is finally finding its groove and is set to go into the black for the first time. Jeremy Kay spoke to CEO
The Eagle has landed
Duncan Kenworthy is one of the UK’s biggest producers, with three Richard Curtis blockbusters to his name - but he hasn’t produced a film since 2003.Matt Mueller caught up with him on the Hungarian location shoot of his long-cherished film, The Eagle Of The Ninth.
Distribution: A Love Story
Overture Films has emerged as one of the main ports of call for independent films looking for US distribution. Key executives Chris McGurk, Danny Rosett and Peter Adee talk to Mike Goodridge about their coming of age
Studio Braun in independent arena
Studio veteran Wolfgang Braun talks to Martin Blaney about the challenges of his new role as head of recently galvanized German distributor Kinowelt
The great entertainer
Ivan Reitman has directed some of the biggest comedies of the last 30 years,but he is more focused these days on producing films for the likes of hisson Jason and auteur Atom Egoyan, writes Denis Seguin.
All things bright and beautiful
As Bright Star prepares to open in cinemas around the world, its veteran Australian producer Jan Chapman tells Sandy George about her immersive and committed approach to film-making.
Meadows takes five
Film-maker Shane Meadows tells Sarah Cooper about his latest feature, Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee, shot over five days for a mere $75,000
One world
In just two years, Patrice Theroux has built E1 into a successful independent multi-territory distribution network thanks to choice acquisitions of both companies and films.
Making Neds
Seven years after he won the Golden Lion for his directorial debut, Peter Mullan is back in the director’s chair, filming Neds in Glasgow. He talks to ScreenDaily about the 1973-set story and its influences
Keeping the edge
The Fortissimo Films chief — now steering the company alone after his partner Wouter Barendrecht died earlier this year — tells Liz Shackleton how he and his team are adjusting their strategy in a tough international sales market
The Swiss connection
The Zurich Film Festival’s MD and artistic director talks to Martin Blaney about his other role, as managing director of production outfit Millbrook Pictures, which made a splashy debut with a $4.3m investment in Oliver Stone’s W.
The top drawer
As Ponyo hits US theatres, Japanese animation legend Hayao Miyazaki arrived in Los Angeles for a rare promotional trip. He spoke to Mike Goodridge about the Miyazaki process and his passion for hand-drawn animation
Optimum prime
Ten years old in 2009, Optimum Releasing is now one of the UK’s leading independent distributors and a key part of StudioCanal’s European network.
The ascent of Mount Olympus
Basil Iwanyk tells Matt Mueller how his Warner Bros-based Thunder Road Pictures arrived at its first studio tentpole Clash Of The Titans, which is shooting in the UK.
The X man
Invigorated by his success at this year’s Cannes with The White Ribbon, German producer Stefan Arndt of X-Filme explains his vision for getting arthouse cinema into production.
Perry gears up for fight
As the Irish government considers scrapping the Irish Film Board, Simon Perry tells Geoffrey Macnab why the board is vital to Irish film culture.
Law enforcer on the front line
The UK-born, Singapore-based Mike Ellis is integral to the clampdown on piracy, in his role as head of the MPA’s Asia-Pacific region. He tells Wendy Mitchell why he has the perfect job for an ex-cop who loves movies
Tales from the script
The hotshot Hollywood duo Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman explain how they learned the key elements of screenwriting and applied them to some of the biggest pictures in the business.
Take 12: Film Export UK
Charlie Bloye, CEO of Film Export UK, one of the 12 organisations taking part in Nesta and the UKFC’s digital innovation programme, explains the challenges facing sales companies in the digital age
Playing Away
The Oscar winner Sam Mendes tells Mike Goodridge why his Edinburgh opener Away We Go is a far cry from big-budget Hollywood.
Chinese Stories
Fresh off a prize win at Cannes for Spring Fever, controversial film-maker Lou Ye tells Liz Shackleton why any portrait of Chinese people in cinema also involves politics.
Serious business
After three years in which it has struggled to define its place on the international calendar, the Rome International Film Festival has charged Gian Luigi Rondi and Piera Detassis with upgrading the event.
Studio building
Thomas Peter Friedl tells Martin Blaney why running the new German film company UFA Cinema is his dream job
Safety net
Meta Louise Foldager has succeeded Vibeke Windelov as Lars von Trier’s producer and explains the challenges she faced to Jacob Wendt Jensen.
Talk Of The Town
International producers give Wendy Mitchell the lowdown on their recent experiences of filming in Puerto Rico.
Breaking the boundaries
Slumdog Millionaire shot Anil Kapoor onto a global stage. Now, he tells Mike Goodridge, he’s discovering what Indian film-makers can learn from Hollywood.
Team values
Iconic film-maker John Lasseter believes animation should be a collaborative process. He tells Mike Goodridge how he creates the right environment
Palestinian territories - bearing fruit
Najwa Najjar has first-hand experience of the Middle Eastern conflicts that inspired her debut narrativefeature, Pomegranates And Myrrh.
One on One
Nigel Thomas, producer, Matador Pictures
UK producer Nigel Thomas explains why his production company Matador Pictures is going from strength to strength.
Noel Clarke, writer and director 4.3.2.1
Noel Clarke talks about his latest project, the female orientated 4.3.2.1 and explains why girls can kick ass too.
Fernando Bovaira and Simon De Santiago, Mod Producciones
Two former Sogecine executives, Fernando Bovaira and Simon De Santiago talk about their new production outfit Mod Producciones, which made a big impact last year with its first film, Alejandro Amenabar’s historical epic Agora
Mike Medaovy and Brad Fischer, producers, Shutter Island
Shutter Island producers Mike Medavoy and Brad Fischer of Phoenix Pictures on Martin Scorsese’s special relationship with Leonardo DiCaprio and why thrillers of the 1930s and 1940s are part of the director’s DNA.
Robert Benmussa, producer, The Ghost Writer
The producer of Roman Polanski’s Berlin competition entry The Ghost Writer tells Patricia Dobson about the challenges during post production – and why financing the film wasn’t easy.
Vinod Chopra, producer, 3 Idiots
Producer Vinod Chopra talks to Jeremy Kay about 3 Idiots, which stars Indian superstar Aamir Khan, and has taken more than $52m worldwide to date, making it the highest grossing Bollywood release in cinema history.
Szabolcs Hajdu, director and screenwriter, Bibliothèque Pascal
Szabolcs Hajdu talks to Theodore Schwinke about the inspiration behind and execution of his new film, which recently won the Golden Reel at the 41st Hungarian Film Week.
Wayne Clarkson, departing executive director, Telefilm Canada
Wayne Clarkson talks to Denis Seguin about his tenure at Telefilm Canada and the challenges facing his replacement.
Emir Kusturica, film-maker and founder of the Kustendorf Festival
Emir Kusturica speaks to Geoffrey Macnab about Kustendorf Film Festival, which he founded three years ago, and honouring Johnny Depp, who is set to star in his forthcoming film, Pancho Villa.
Martin Stitt, director, Family Jewels
Director Martin Stitt talks to Jeremy Kay about Family Jewels, which plays in the Sundance shorts programme.
Linas Phillips, director, and Thomas Woodrow, producer, Bass Ackwards
Director Linas Phillips and producer Thomas Woodrow talk to Jeremy Kay about Bass Ackwards, which plays in Sundance’s inaugural Next programme.
Aamir Khan, producer, and Anusha Rizvi, writer/director, Peepli Live
Indian superstar and producer Aamir Khan and first-time writer-director Anusha Rizvi talk to Jeremy Kay about the film Peepli Live, which screens in Sundance’s World Cinema Dramatic Competition.
Diane Bell, writer/director, Obselidia
Scottish writer/director Diane Bell talks to Jeremy Kay about her first feature Obselidia, which screens in the US dramatic competition at Sundance.
David Michôd, writer/director, Animal Kingdom
Australian writer/director David Michôd talks to Sandy George about his first feature Animal Kingdom, which will screen in the world cinema competition at Sundance.
Ram Bergman, producer, Bunraku
The $25m action-adventure film starring Demi Moore and Josh Hartnett shot at Media Pro Studios in Romania for 12 weeks in summer 2008. The film is produced by director Guy Moshe’s Los Angeles-based Picturesque Films, Los Angeles-based Ram Bergman Productions and is fully financed by Keith Calder’s Los Angeles-based Snoot Entertainment.
