Former FilmFour finance director Kim Ballard has joined UK tax-driven financier and producer Random Harvest as director of production finance.

Ballard will oversee raising finance to complement Random Harvest's existing tax-based funds under the UK's Section 48 and EIS mechanisms.

Random Harvest is adapting Phil Stoole's acclaimed short Schneider's 2nd Stage as a feature, which Stoole will direct. Kenneth Branagh is in talks to reprise his role in the psychological thriller.

Meanwhile, the company is busy producing films such as AFM title Octane through its genre label Four Horsemen Films, which has a European distribution deal with Buena Vista International