Maxime Cottray

Source: XYZ Films

Maxime Cottray

XYZ Films has promoted Maxime Cottray from executive vice president to COO in the run-up to the American Film Market.

Cottray has played a key role in turning XYZ Films into a rounded studio and has worked closely with the principals to raise production and P&A financing for the company, including a facility with Bank of America.

As COO he will oversee financing, business affairs, and day-to-day operations, reporting to XYZ Films CEO Nick Spicer.

Since 2021 Cottray has closed the acquisition and financing of a slate of films including Berlinale selection Blackberry and Netflix’s 2023 Sundance selection Run Rabbit Run.

He established a partnership with AI virtual dubbing company Flawless to acquire and release foreign-language films to be formatted for English-speaking audiences. This year he facilitated the closing of XYZ’s first two scripted TV series, New Zealand-set Madam starring Rachel Griffiths, and Conflict, which is shooting in Finland.

Prior to joining XYZ in 2017, Cottray spent six years at the film financing group Ingenious Media in London where he was responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and negotiating investments in the media industry. The French and German national is based in Los Angeles.

“This is a well-earned promotion for Maxime,” said Spicer. “He’s beloved by his XYZ colleagues and our outside partners alike. I have supreme confidence he will succeed in his new role and continue to make XYZ an exciting home for filmmakers.”

“I am immensely proud to be a part of the team at XYZ and am grateful for the continued trust and unwavering support shown to me by Nick, Nate [Bolotin], Aram [Tertzakian], and the rest of the team. I remain as excited as ever to foster XYZ’s growth as an indie studio and look forward to the many exciting years ahead.”

Upcoming titles from XYZ Films include Atom Egoyan’s TIFF selection Seven Veils starring Amanda Seyfried, Ash starring Eiza González and Aaron Paul and directed by Flying Lotus, Netflix Original Havoc from Gareth Evans (The Raid series) starring Tom Hardy and Forrest Whitaker, and Daniela Forever directed by Nacho Vigalondo and starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannó.