Film Business Academy at Cass Business School announces the participants for Inside Pictures 2008

16 June 2008: Inside Pictures has announced the 15 successful applicants for the 2008 programme. The group was chosen from hundreds of applications through a committee selection process and a shortlist of interviews. 

• Jack Arbuthnott, Development Editor, BBC Films
• Christopher Billows, Director, International Distribution, Focus Features
• David Bishop, Head of Acquisitions, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• Nicole Carmen-Davis, Producer, Pocket Watch Films
• Stefan Demetriou, Director of Audiovisual, EMI UK
• Arvind Ethan David, Producer/CEO, Slingshot
• Rebekah Gilbertson, Producer, Rainy Day Films
• Laura Hastings-Smith, Producer, Wayward Films
• Susie Hock, Director, Business & Legal Affairs, Universal Pictures International
• Adam Kulick, Partner, Goldcrest
• Ken Marshall, Producer, Steel Mill Pictures
• Andrew Reid, Head of Production, Northern Ireland Screen
• Rachel Robey, Producer, Wellington Films Ltd
• David Shear, Director of Sales, Revolver Entertainment
• Gemma Spector, Head of Marketing , Revolver Entertainment

Terry Ilott, Director of the Film Business Academy at Cass Business School, said:

"Inside Pictures has again identified fifteen of the best up and coming executives in the film business.  Whether working in production, sales, distribution, exhibition, finance or professional services, the members of this cohort are among the brightest hopes for the future of our industry.  Being selected for Inside Pictures is a privilege sought by many but achieved by only a few.  They are embarking on an exciting journey that will find them at the end far better equipped to make a great contribution to British film.  For many of them, it will also be a life-transforming experience."

Janine Marmot, Skillset's Director of Film commented:

 "Skillset are delighted to be supporting Inside Pictures – a really excellent programme which gives the participants unique insight into the film industry and unrivalled access to the top players on both sides of the Atlantic.  It is no surprise that this programme attracts exceptional practitioners and exceptional candidates."

Michael Kuhn, Executive Director, Inside Pictures, said:

"By popular demand we are back again with another great line up of speakers and participants to consolidate the reputation of Inside Pictures as the foremost course in the world for training producers and film business executives."

Inside Pictures is an executive development programme based around three intensive one-week modules that take place in London and Los Angeles between July 2008 and January 2009. It comprises a high level education in the global business of film combined with meetings and events with industry leaders, seminars, case studies, projects, and studio and other off site visits.

Inside Pictures is presented by the Film Business Academy at Cass Business School, delivered by Qwerty Films and supported by Skillset through the Skillset Film Skills Fund as part of A Bigger Future – the UK film skills strategy.  The Skillset Film Skills Fund is supported by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council and the film industry through the Skills Investment Fund. The Film Business Academy is also supported by Skillset and the UK Film Council as part of A Bigger Future.

EM Media, Pinewood Studios Group, and Screen East are supporting the programme. The LA module is assisted by the UK Film Council LA office.  Additional scholarship funding has been donated by the Film Distributors Association, Ingenious Media, Revolver Entertainment, and Working Title Films.

See the website www.inside-pictures.com for the most up to date list of Speakers.

Speakers confirmed at 16 June 2008:

• Jeff Abberley, Joint MD, Scion Films
• Amy Ashworth, Licensing Executive Film TV and Media, EMI Music Publishing.
• Peter Bazalgette, Chief Creative Officer, Endemol Group, Chairman Endemol UK
• Victoria Belfrage, Agent, Julian Belfrage Associates
• Tim Bevan, Co-Chairman, Working Title Films
• Julia Blackman, Joint MD, Scion Films
• Kieran Breen, Senior VP Marketing International Theatrical, 20^th Century Fox Film Corporation
• Alan Brunswick, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
• Pete Buckingham, UK Film Council Head of Distribution and Exhibition
• John Byrne, Lawyer/Business Consultant, Lemniscate Ltd
• Jonathan Channon, Executive Vice President, Media, EMI Music Publishing
• Martin Churchill, Editor, Tax Efficient Review
• Christine Corner, Partner, Media and Entertainment Group, Grant Thornton
• Andrew Cripps, President, Paramount Pictures International
• Lenny Crooks, Head of the New Cinema Fund, UK Film Council
• Eddie Cunningham, President, Universal Pictures International Entertainment
• Chris Curling, Producer, Zephyr Films
• Richard Curtis, Writer/Director
• Will Davies, Screenwriter
• Mark Devereux, Senior Partner, Olswang
• Finola Dwyer, Producer
• Trevor Engelson, Partner and Producer, Underground Films
• Rick Finkelstein, Vice Chairman, Universal Pictures & Exec VP, Universal Studios
• Alan Giles, ex Chief Executive Officer, HMV Group
• Steve Golin, Producer and Chief Executive Officer, Anonymous Content
• Christian Grass, President, Universal Pictures International  Studios
• Peter Graves, Marketing Consultant, Cinemarket
• Joshua Greer, Chief Executive Officer, Real D
• Ed Guiney, Joint MD & Producer, Element Films
• Jon Gumpert, Reliant Pictures Corporation
• Nick Harris, Partner, The Rabineau, Watcher, Sanford & Harris Literary Agency  
• Tim Haslam, CEO HanWay Films
• Billy Hinshelwood, Lawyer
• Rachel Holroyd, Snr Agent, Casarotto Ramsay & Associates
• Alex Hope, Managing Director, Double Negative Visual Effects
• Terry Ilott, Director, Cass Business School
• Robert Jones, President, Material Entertainment.
• James Kay, Partner, Olswang
• Rebecca Kearey, Senior VP International Marketing & Sales, Fox Searchlight
• Duncan Kenworthy, Producer, Toledo Productions
• Miles Ketley, Partner, Wiggin LLP
• Howard Kiedaisch, CEO, Arts Alliance Media
• Steve Knibbs, COO, Vue Entertainment
• Michael Kuhn, Chairman, Qwerty Films
• Andrew MacDonald, Producer/Partner, DNA Films
• Charles MacDonald, Premier PR
• Margaret Matheson, Producer, Bard Entertainment
• Cameron McCracken, Managing Director, Pathe UK
• Patrick McKenna, Chairman, Ingenious media
• Sally Miles, TV Sales Executive
• Charles Moore, Partner, Wiggin LLP
• Ian Neil, Music Superviser
• Allan Niblo, Principal, Vertigo Films
• Sam Nichols,Senior Vice President, Theatrical at Momentum Pictures
• Joe Oppenheimer, Executive Producer, BBC Films
• Nick Osborne, Partner and Producer, Underground Films
• Richard Philipps, Partner, Richards Butler
• Allon Reich, Producer/Partner, DNA Films
• James Richardson, Producer, Vertigo Films
• Malcolm Ritchie, Co-Managing Director, Qwerty Films
• Marion Rosenberg OBE, Manager/Producer, The Marion Rosenberg Office
• Tessa Ross, Controller of Film and Drama, Channel 4
• Aaron Ryder, Producer, Raygun Productions
• Mike Saksa, Sr. VP/General Manager, Theatrical New Release, Warner Bros.
• Ron Sanders, President Warner Home Video
• Tanya Seghatchian, Head of UK Film Council Development Fund
• Dom Sidoli, Producer, Double Negative Visual Effects
• Michael Shyjka, Senior Manager, Film & Entertainment, Allied Irish Bank
• Julia Short, Joint Managing Director, Verve Pictures
• Jo Smith, General Manager/Partner, DNA Films
• James Spring, Managing Director, Ealing Studios
• David Solomon, Trainer, Sun & Moon Training
• David Steele, Head of Research and Statistics, UK Film Council
• John Tarnoff, Head of Show Development, Dreamworks Animation
• Barnaby Thompson, Head of Ealing Studios
• Lara Thompson, Snr VP Worldwide Acquisitions & Production, Sony Pictures
• Stewart Till, Chairman UK Film Council, Deputy Chair Skillset
• Robert Walak, VP of acquisitions for Europe, Momentum Pictures
• Janet Walker, Financial Consultant
• Nigel Walley, Managing Director, Decipher
• Gareth Wigan, Strategic Adviser, Sony International Motion Pictures Production Group
• Mark Wolfe, Organic Productions
• John Woodward, Chief Executive Officer, UK Film Council
• Jane Wright, Commercial & General Manager, BBC Films

- ENDS -

Contacts for further information:

Notes to editors:

Qwerty Films is a feature film development and production business and media consultancy based in London.  The team, Michael Kuhn, Malcolm Ritchie and Jill Tandy, were among the senior managers who established and ran PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, one of the few examples of a Europe-based worldwide studio built from scratch. Qwerty Films together with Citibank established N1 European Film Produktions to produce and finance a slate of international feature films which to date have included – Severance, Alien Autopsy, Stage Beauty, I ©Huckabees, Kinsey, Wondrous Oblivion, The Moguls.   Qwerty Films is currently in post-production on Saul Dibb's The Duchess starring Keira Knightley.

The Film Business Academy at Cass Business School is the world's first international centre of its type, dedicated to the business of film. It will cover every dimension of the film value chain from development and finance to distribution, marketing and exhibition.  Its work will help to develop talent through high level business education and enrich the industry's knowledge through research.  It is supported by Skillset and the UK Film Council as part of 'A Bigger Future' – the UK Film Skills Strategy.  www.filmbusinessacademy.com.

Cass Business School, London is one of Europe's leading providers of business and management education, consultancy and research. Its top-rated programmes range from undergraduate to masters, MBA, PhD and executive education. Its reputation attracts students and faculty from around the world.  www.cass.city.ac.uk

Skillset is the Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Creative Media which comprises tv, film, radio, interactive media, computer games, photo imaging and publishing. Our aim is to enhance the performance and generate change in our sector thereby raising productivity and ensuring that the creative media industries remain globally competitive. We do this by influencing, leading and developing skills, training and education policy and through opening up the industries to the UK's pool of diverse talent. www.skillset.org

The UK Film Council is the Government backed lead agency for film in the UK. We aim to make sure that the UK has a dynamic film industry fit for the digital age and to help UK audiences enjoy the best of British and world cinema. www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk

A Bigger Future is a strategic plan for delivering industry relevant skills in the UK film industry. The result of 12 months research and consultation with the industry - from those involved in script development to those working in exhibition - it is a £50m, five-year plan. It is funded by the National Lottery through the UK Film Council, and from contributions made to the Skills Investment Fund (SIF) from feature films, and additionally-levered sources of finance.

EM Media is a dynamic Regional Screen Agency which secures finance, nurtures and develops talent and invests in success. The agency aims to develop the film, games, TV and interactive sectors across the East Midlands region and increase opportunities for audiences to engage with and access screen product. Feature films in production/due for release include Bronson, Unmade Beds. Better Things, Donkey Punch, A Complete History of My Sexual Failures, Summer and Mum and Dad. Previous feature film investments include the award-winning Control and This Is England.

Pinewood Studios Group. Pinewood, Shepperton and Teddington provide facilities for major national and international film production, filmed television, studio television recording, the filming of commercials, post production sound services and media related businesses. The studios incorporate 34 stages, one of Europe's largest exterior water tanks, a globally unique underwater filming stage, 10 digital television studios, post production services with 13 audio theatres, a preview theatre seating 110, a selection of backlots and a wealth of media specialists on site. Recent film and TV productions shot at the studios include the latest Bond instalment Quantum of Solace Mamma Mia!, Sweeney Todd, The Bourne Ultimatum, Cranford, Weakest Link, My Family, Harry Hill's TV Burp and The IT Crowd.  www.pinewoodgroup.com

Screen East is the regional screen agency for the East of England dedicated to developing a thriving film, TV and digital media industry.  The agency helps the region achieve prominence for the creative industries by attracting and assisting productions; encouraging the making of innovative and distinctive UK films; fostering the growth of new and emerging talent and widening audience horizons. Funded by the UK Film Council and the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Screen East allocates Lottery funding through the Regional Investment Fund for England (RIFE), and has recently been awarded £2m from the European Regional Development Fund to invest in new production projects.