THE BRIT 50


Michael Kuhn QWERTY FILMS


Need to know Former PolyGram senior managers Michael Kuhn, Jill Tandy and Malcolm Ritchie set up production/fi nance outfi t and media consultancy Qwerty in 1999. Together with Citibank, Qwerty established N1 European Film Produktions to produce and fi nance a slate of international features, which have to date in- cluded titles such as Kinsey and I Heart Huckabees. Kuhn acted primarily as an executive for the company before returning to a more hands-on role on 2008 hit The Duchess. Qwerty has strong studio ties — especially with Fox, which has backed a host of Kuhn’s titles. Key personnel Michael Kuhn, Jill Tandy, Malcolm Ritchie. Incoming Projects due to shoot next year include Saul Dibb’s TF1-backed adaptation of Irene Nemirovsky’s Suite Francaise and sci-fi thriller The Animators, which will be directed by fi rst- timer Ruairi Robinson. Qwerty is also developing Do Or Die, a teen horror to be directed by Bernard Rose. Michael Kuhn says “All we try to do at Qwerty is to make one of the good old stories in new ways that touch the heart.” info@qwertyfi lms.com


Sarah Radclyffe


SARAH RADCLYFFE PRODUCTIONS


Duncan Kenworthy TOLEDO PRODUCTIONS


Need to know Duncan Kenworthy is one of the most successful UK producers of all time, with Four Weddings And A Funeral, Not- ting Hill and Love Actually on his CV. The latter was actually his last release as a producer: he became full-time chairman of Bafta in 2004, for a term of two years, and he continues as vice- president. Kenworthy’s fi rst project after his Bafta chairman- ship is Roman epic adventure The Eagle, directed by Kevin Macdonald and set for release in the UK on March 18, 2011. A co- founder of the UK’s DNA Films, Kenworthy now operates on his


MATADOR PICTURES Nigel Thomas


Need to know Established in 1999, Matador has been more focused on fi nancing in recent years. But investment company Regent Cap- ital has just bought Matador, giv- ing it the stability to produce more in-house projects. Matador plans to launch a sales arm in 2011,


■ 32 Screen International December 15, 2010


while Nick Hamm’s Killing Bono, which it co-produced, will be re- leased in the UK in the spring. Key personnel Nigel Thomas. Incoming Matador’s new slate is yet to be announced. It has pro- duced war drama Age Of Heroes, released in the UK in March 2011,


and is committed to two sequels. Nigel Thomas says “We try to run Matador like a business, which a lot of independents do not. It’s about doing things people want to pay for. And sheer bloody mindedness.”


admin@matadorpictures.com


own and is very selective about material. Key personnel Duncan Kenworthy. Incoming A new version of My Fair Lady, scripted by Emma Thomp- son, which Kenworthy hopes to shoot in late 2011. John Madden is attached to direct. Duncan Kenworthy says “The only way I know how not to fail as a producer is to be incredibly pas- sionate about every fi lm I make. The person I would model myself after if I could is Saul Zaentz, who in his career has developed and made one fi lm after another, and makes them by hook or by crook.” info@toledoproductions.com


Need to know A co-founder of Working Title Films before branching out on her own in 1992, Sarah Radclyffe combines strong industry connections with an always-interesting slate, which currently includes an adaptation of John Masefi eld’s The Box Of Delights to be directed by Mike Newell. Most recently she execu- tive produced Australian director Shirley Barrett’s South Solitary. Key personnel Sarah Radclyffe. Incoming Next up is a feature ad- aptation of Robert Muchamore’s Cherub series of books, to be di- rected by Chris Smith and set to shoot in 2011. Also on the horizon is an adaption of Michael Mor- purgo’s book Kensuke’s Kingdom to be directed by Anand Tucker, and the debut feature of director Khurram Longi, a post 9/11 love story set in England called Alive Alone with Samantha Morton signed up to play the female lead. Sarah Radclyffe says “It’s about fi nding material you really be- lieve in and fi lm-makers you real- ly believe in. You have to have the passion for it, so the odd morn- ing when you wake up and think you’re going to get a sensible job doesn’t last for very long.” sarah@srpltd.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17