Mark Gill resurfaces as president of Millennium Films

Gill cut a busy figure in Cannes networking with the industry following the joint decision with Neil Sacker to wind down The Film Department after the co-founders were unable to raise $200m in recapitalisation.

Millennium Films plans to produce and finance five to eight star-driven, wide-release films a year in the $20-80m budget range.

Starting in July, Gill will work closely with Nu Image / Millennium Films heads Avi Lerner and Trevor Short and development head Boaz Davidson, with a particular focus on development, packaging, production and marketing.

“It’s a new Millennium,” Lerner said “Mark and I have known each other for 10 years, and have worked together very well in the past. He is highly respected in the creative community, has a strong business sense, and is a very hard worker who likes to move as quickly as we do. I am confident that we will be an extremely effective team.”

“At first glance, Avi and I may seem like the ultimate odd couple,” Gill said. “But we’ve always gotten along really well, and we share the same ambition – to make high-quality commercial movies that are strong both creatively and economically on a worldwide basis. 

“The most recent indication: he just completed production on a film directed by Gabriele Muccino starring Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Catherine Zeta Jones, Uma Thurman and Dennis Quaid (Playing The Field). I admire his business acumen, and have a ton of respect for his longevity in a business that tends to eat its young. And he makes me laugh.”