|
|
A new Irish independent film company that combines the experience and skill of some of Ireland’s foremost producers & financiers, has launched in Dublin. Newgrange Pictures aims to produce original commercial films for the international market as well as developing exciting material from emerging and proven filmmaking talent.
|
Established in Feburary 2005, the team at Newgrange Picutures brings together a a unique group of individuals with vast experience in production, finance and distribution. The producing team is headed by Jackie Larkin, Stuart Switzer & Linda Cullen with financier Dómhnal Slattery and distributor Paul Higgins also on board.
Newgrange Pictures is currently developing three features films slated for production in 2005 and 2006 including ‘The Kerry Babies’ a factual drama by Gerry Stembridge,’Stella Days’ a period drama by Antoine O’Flathartha and a thriller ‘Two Wrongs’ by the writing team Rachael Moriarty & Peter Murphy.
On announcement of the launch, Mr. Paul Higgins, Chair, said “ Newgrange Pictures have a fresh approach to financing films. A comprehensive management team allows us to make quick decisions without compromising the quality of our creative projects. Our international network of contacts will facilitate the arrangement of unique and innovative funding packages and the sale and marketing of our completed films”.
The Newgrange Pictures Team Profiles:
Jackie Larkin has been involved in Ireland’s film and independent tv industry for the past 14 years. She is now heading up Newgrange Pictures, developing a slate of feature film projects for the international market.
Credits Include: No Tears, Ballykissangel 6, and documentary A Call to Arms.
Stuart Switzer, an accountant, is Managing Director of COCO Television since 1998. Stuart has responsibilities for a range of innovative financial initiatives within the company including corporate and production finance. Stuart raised and undertook the BES Initiative to fund the development of a television studio in Galway which is now home to Ros na Rún, the successful Irish language serial drama on TG4. He has also raised section 481 funds for numerous COCO productions.
Linda Cullen has been directing and producing television programmes since 1985. She is the Head of Television in COCO Television since 1997. An enduring and committed programme maker, Linda’s directing credits include various factual series and a number of award winning documentaries.
Credits Include: House Hunters, Cabin Fever and Treasure Island.
Paul Higgins is an established media financier. He spent ten years in London working for NM Rothschilds and a number of other corporate finance boutiques. Over the last fifteen years his focus has been exclusively on the media sector handling a number of major projects on behalf of financial institutions and public companies. He is a founding director and shareholder of Optimum Releasing, a leading UK based film distribution company. Optimum’s distribution slate includes Oscar winners ‘Spirited Away’ and ‘Nowhere in Africa’, and Palme d’Or Winners ‘Elephant’ and ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’. Current releases include ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ and Al Pacino’s ‘Merchant of Venice’.
Dómhnal Slattery is the Chairman and Managing Partner of Claret Capital a private equity firm based in Dublin. Claret was established in 2004 and is growing a portfolio of investments in the international property and media sectors. Prior to the establishment of Claret Capital Dómhnal was the Managing Director of Structured Asset Finance (SAF) for the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), currently the fifth largest bank in the world. Based in London he had direct responsibility for a number of global business lines including the bank’s film financing activities. Projects financed included the Harry Potter series.
For further info go to www.newgrangepictures.com
