UK distributor and producer-financier True Brit has filed for administration three years after launching with a focus on backing and releasing UK independent films.
Founded by Zygi Kamasa, the former head of Lionsgate UK and Europe and Marv Studios, True Brit launched in November 2023 with an ambitious plan to co-finance more than $150m of UK independent productions over its first three years, with backing from international music management company Three Six Zero.
In a statement to Screen, Kamasa said: “In extremely challenging market conditions, the company has taken the difficult decision to enter administration. An independent specialist has now been appointed to oversee the company and assess the options available, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcome for the company and its creditors.”
The arrival of a substantial and well-resourced new player in the UK market was greeted warmly by the industry and initially the company enjoyed success.
Within a year, True Brit had managed to shepherd six features into production. Its first release - Toronto acquisition The Critic, starring Ian McKellen and Gemma Arterton - grossed £1.7m at the UK-Ireland box office with Lionsgate licensed to distribute. In March 2025, Nick Love’s Marching Powder, took £3.1m at the box office.
However, recent releases have disappointed. Gurinder Chadha’s Christmas Karma took £1.3m at the box office, despite a wide release on 434 sites in November 2025.
In July this year, Morgan Matthews’ UK-Irish comedy 500 Miles, starring Bill Nighy, Maisie Williams and Roman Griffin Davis, started with just £35,114 from 116 UK sites.
George Jaques’ Berlinale drama Sunny Dancer, which was backed by a £100,000 BFI audience award, also struggled to attract audiences, taking just £82,900 from 336 sites on its first weekend last month. Earlier this month, The Death Of Robin Hood, starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer, launched with £245,000 from 477 sites. Meanwhile, The Dreadful starring Sophie Turner and Kit Harington, had a digital only release last month.
True Brit had a slew of films on its UK release slate, including US filmmaker Zachary Wigon’s horror thriller Victorian Psycho, starring Maika Monroe and Jason Isaacs; The Creep, director Christopher Smith’s reimagining of his 2004 horror cult classic; Craig Robert’s comedy-horror The Scurry, starring Ella Purnell and Rhys Ifans; Paul Andrew Williams’s Faith, starring Erin Doherty and James McAvoy, which just premiered at Toronto; and Jordan Tannahill’s Yorkshire set zombie horror Rapture starring Will Poulter and Kit Connor.
True Brit is also listed by the London Film Festival as the distributor of Anthony Wonke’s boxing drama In The Shadows, which world premieres at the festival next month, although the Film Distributors’ Association release schedule now lists Metis Films as its distributor.
It is understood that London law firm Simons Muirhead Burton is handling the administration process for True Brit.
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