John Gore Studios takes majority stake in Hilary Bevan Jones’ UK outfit Hilltop Screen

Hilary Bevan Jones’ nascent UK production company Hilltop Screen has received investment from John Gore Studios.

While precise figures of the deal were not revealed, Hilltop Screen is now majority-owned by John Gore Studios.

Hilltop Screen was founded by drama producer Bevan Jones alongside UK media lawyer Medwyn Jones, with a slate of feature and TV projects in the pipeline.

Bevan Jones was the first woman to chair Bafta, with previous credits including Richard Curtis’ The Girl In The Café and The Boat That Rocked. She founded Endor Productions in 1998, which was bought by Germany’s Seven.One Studios in 2012 and closed in 2024.

John Gore Studios has also appointed Francis Hopkinson as creative director in a newly-established role. His credits include Mike Newell’s upcoming The Bitter End and TV series Wallander. He joins from his role as executive producer at Expanded Media and will complete his work on 50 Cent-produced UK boxing series Fightland for Starz. Hopkinson will report directly to the Studio’s CEO, Hilary Strong.

John Gore Studios is headquartered in London, with offices in New York. Its film slate includes The Bitter End, starring Joan Collins and Isabella Rossellini, and Alex Marx’s The Queen Of Fashion starring Andrea Riseborough.

Hammer Films, Icon Film Distribution, Kaleidoscope Film Distribution and Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment have all been previously acquired by John Gore Studios.

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