‘WE WANT TO DO FILMS THAT ARE DISTINCTIVE, BOLD, RISK-TAKING’ BRIT 50: THE BROADCASTERS, p39


» KUDOS PICTURES Douglas Rae and Robert Bernstein ECOSSE FILMS


Need to know Ecosse got off to a strong start in 1997 with its Os- car-nominated fi rst feature Mrs Brown, the company goes from strength to strength. Ecosse has just wrapped Andrea Arnold’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights while its fi rst romantic comedy, Decoy Bride, will be released next summer. And 2011 is all about branching out internationally — Ecosse has two big-budget in- ternational projects set to shoot next year, and has begun forging strong links with Australian and US producers. Ecosse is also a suc- cessful TV producer, with credits including Monarch Of The Glen.


INDEPENDENT FILM COMPANY


Need to know From its inception in 2004, Luc Roeg intended for Independent Film Company to operate across development, sales and production. The outfi t has a strong track record of sales on its own and third-party titles such as Duncan Jones’ Moon, Ian Sharp’s upcoming Tracker, Paul Andrew Williams’ London To Brighton and Noel Clarke’s Adulthood. Independent’s pro- ductions include Bernard Rose’s Mr Nice, starring Rhys Ifans, and Chloe Sevigny which was released by eOne in October, and Lynne Ramsay’s anticipated We Need To Talk About Kevin, cur- rently in post. Key personnel CEO Luc Roeg, CFO Michael Robinson, managing di- rector Andrew Orr, head of sales Abigail Walsh, head of marketing Sarah Townsend. Incoming In development are the


Key personnel Douglas Rae, Robert Bernstein. Incoming Ecosse is gearing up to shoot a new adaptation of Treas- ure Island, with Australian direc- tor Peter Cornwell, in the spring. It is the fi rst in an intended three-picture franchise. Also due to shoot in 2011 is a $20m ad- aptation of Sebastian Faulks’ On Green Dolphin Street, while com- edy horror Love Bite and romance Girls Night Out are both in devel- opment. Robert Bernstein says “The key to any success is our relationships with key creative talent and part- ners such as HanWay, Film4 and the UK Film Council.” info@ecossefi lms.com


Need to know TV company Kudos set up its fi lm division in 2004 under former Film4 head Paul Webster (Atonement). Kudos has strong links with talent, and en- joys the fi nancial stability which comes with TV work. Early projects included David Cronen- berg’s Eastern Promises and Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. Big- ger budget fi lms are underway thanks to a partnership between Kudos parent Shine Group and New Regency. Key personnel Kudos executive chairman Stephen Garrett, head of fi lm Paul Webster, head of devel- opment Ed Clarke, Shine Group SVP production Paula Jalfon. Incoming Rowan Joffe’s Brighton Rock premiered in Toronto; Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Ewan McGregor is in post, with BBC Films and Li- onsgate. In development now is Eastern Promises 2 (with Focus), reteaming Kudos with Cronen- berg and writer Steven Knight.


LEFT BANK PICTURES Luc Roeg


Ronan Bennett-scripted 19th century epic Skeletons On The Zahara and adaptations of John Banville’s 2005 Booker prize winning novel The Sea and Ber- nard Cornwell’s Azincourt, to be directed by Michael Mann. Luc Roeg says “Being involved in production and sales gives us a valuable insight into the mar- ket and is a key to how we plan our own production programme. We’re currently developing larger, more outward-looking interna- tional projects.”


mail@independentfi lm company.com


Need to know An injection of UK Film Council funds helped ex- head of Granada Productions Andy Harries get Left Bank Pic- tures off the ground in 2007, and with the arrival of Calendar Girls producer Suzanne Mackie in 2009 Left Bank now boasts exceptional talent links, a strong features slate and a thriving TV production arm. Currently in post-production on Nigel Cole’s Rafta Rafta, adapted from the play by Ayub Khan-Din, the company’s credits to date in- clude Tom Hooper’s feature The Damned United and the Bafta- winning BBC TV series Walland- er starring Kenneth Branagh. Key personnel Chief executive Andy Harries, head of fi lm Su- zanne Mackie. Incoming Harries and Mackie are developing Brick In The Wall, written by Steve Thompson for BBC Films. Also in the pipeline is


Paul Webster


Joint venture Shine Pictures has The Gray Man, Mark Greaney’s thriller adapted by Adam Cozad, and William Nicholson’s Con- queror, about William the Con- queror. With StudioCanal, Kudos is working on Yvan Attal’s The Pool, a remake of 1969 thriller La Piscine; and a remake of Love Me If You Dare, from writer Ann Cherkis (the project is now out to directors). Another lower-budget piece is thriller Baby Love from TV veteran Jon Jones, to be pro- duced with Adrian Sturges. Paul Webster says “We’re in the business of doing high-end com- mercial movies, working with the best European and British talent.” info@kudosfi lmandtv.com


Andy Harries


America’s Most Wanted, a drama comedy with Brilliant Films, be- ing written by Tim Firth. Mackie is also looking to buy the rights for a project about the 1970 Miss World competition which was sabotaged by the women’s move- ment. Andy Harries says “For us, it is about identifying stories which have scale and depth and are entertaining. They must also be stories which will excite talent. And so long as a project has im- pact and makes a noise, it could excite us.” info@leftbankpictures.co.uk


December 15, 2010 Screen International 37 ■


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