EXCLUSIVE: Industry veteran Catherine Quantschnigg is heading to Cannes with worldwide sales rights to The Hammer, a documentary about the celebrated auctioneer Simon de Pury, often referred to as the “Mick Jagger of the auction world”.
Simon Wallon directed the film and gained rare access to de Pury as he traces the charismatic art world luminary’s journey, from managing some of the world’s most prestigious private collections to leading powerhouse auction houses Sotheby’s and Phillips, and repeatedly breaking sales records.
The Hammer explores the evolving intersection of art and commerce and pivotal moments in de Pury’s career, from orchestrating the first Sotheby’s auction in the Soviet Union to reinventing himself as a television personality, artist, and DJ.
Production took place in New York, Tokyo, London, Cannes, Miami, and Monaco, and there are appearances from leading contemporary artists including Marina Abramović, Jeff Koons, and Chloe Wise.
Wallon previously directed 2022 Venice selection Bonnie about the casting director Bonnie Timmermann, and he is developing his narrative feature debut Full Body with Bafta-nominated producer Nicola Giuliano of Indigo Film.
The Hammer is co-financed and co-produced by Aleksey Ageyev, Julia and Victoria Zayceva of Forma Pro from Latvia, Asya Nikolaeva of On a Whim Films, Mike Ovchareno and Tanya Stern of Lazy Mike Gallery, David Unger of Artist International Group, and Daniel Braun of Submarine Entertainment, alongside Black Square Magazine.
Wallon said, “The mechanics of the art market can feel opaque, even intimidating. But with Simon de Pury at the centre it becomes something else entirely — dynamic, theatrical and deeply passionate. He is a natural storyteller, and through him, this world opens up in unexpected ways.”
Ageyev added, “The art market is one of the most fascinating theatres of power and capital — and Simon de Pury is its ultimate showman. This film captures a world where taste, ego and enormous wealth collide, and where the stakes extend far beyond money into cultural legacy.”
Executive producer and sales lead Quantschnigg said, “Simon de Pury has long been a singular figure in the art world, but this film reveals the man behind the myth. In these uncertain and unstable times, art remains a powerful unifier, and The Hammer offers both insight and entertainment. We’re excited to introduce the film to international buyers.”
Quantschnigg has worked on Grierson Award-nominated documentaries 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible and Finding Jack Charlton, and her credits include Arsène Wenger: Invincible, and Check Point Zoo and Snow Leopard Sister – both of which were executive-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way.
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