HanWay and Celluloid create dream company
Producer Jeremy Thomas’ UK-based HanWay Films and Hengameh Panahi’s Paris-based Celluloid Dreams have merged to become Dreamachine, a new international sales, production and financing venture that will debut at Cannes and is sure to be an international powerhouse from the onset.
Equal shareholders in the privately funded film house – which will be based in London, Paris and Toronto – Thomas and Panahi will act as joint chairmen, with Panahi specifically overseeing acquisitions and production. Tim Haslam has been named CEO and will be responsible for sales, distribution and marketing.
Commenting on the union, Thomas said, “Over the last few years HanWay has dramatically expanded…and I see Dreamachine as the marriage of two rapidly-evolving companies with the same ambition: The distribution of quality cinema. Hengameh has a wonderful eye for talent with an unrivalled energy and enthusiasm, and we share an abiding love for cinema.”
Panahi added: “In Jeremy I have found a like-minded partner with a real passion for movies. Together we create a totally independent European group acknowledged by great depth of international experience and proven track record. Celluloid Dreams was known as ‘the directors label’ and specialised in discovering unique talents worldwide and building their international career.”
With a combined library of over 500 titles of some world’s foremost filmmakers, the company’s stellar slate features Thomas’ current projects in production – including Gerald McMorrow’s Franklyn (starring Ewan McGregor and Eva Green) and Phillip Noyce’s Dirt Music (with Rachel Weisz and Colin Farrell, see article) – alongside Michael Haneke’s Funny Games [+see also:
trailer
film profile], Julian Jarrold’s Brideshead Revisited and Michael Winterbottom’s Genova, to name but a few.
(See also)
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