Real Deal 2011
Biographies
Keynote Speaker
MICHAEL KUHN
Michael Kuhn was born in Nairobi, Kenya in 1949. After primary school he left to attend Dover
College in England in 1962 and went on to Clare College Cambridge in 1968 to read Law. He joined
Polygram N.V (now part of Universal) in 1975 and in 1991 set up Polygram Filmed Entertainment,
which made and distributed over 100 feature films and which between them won 14 Academy
Awards. These films included FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, NOTTING HILL, DEAD MAN
WALKING, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, LOCK, STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, ELIZABETH,
TRAINSPOTTING and PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. He served on Commissioner Oreja’s
Committee and was awarded the Michael Balcon Award for services to British Cinema in 1999.
Returning to Britain in 1999, after being based in Los Angeles, he set up Qwerty Films and secured
finance to produce bigger budget movies. He has investments in a music company, a film
development joint venture with the Film Council. Qwerty Films has produced 8 features including I
HEART HUCKABEES, ALIEN AUTOPSY, KINSEY, SEVERANCE, and THE DUCHESS, starring Keira
Knightley and Ralph Fiennes, which was released in September 2008 by Pathé in the UK and by
Paramount Vantage in North America, and won a BAFTA and Oscar for Best Costume.
His book “100 Films and a Funeral” was published in 2001 and a documentary based on it was
released in 2008. Among other positions he is a Patron of Skillset and Chair of the Independent
Cinema Office, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He was Chair of the National Film and
Television School from 2002 until the end of 2009, and was awarded a fellowship in 2008.
Interviewer: Ed Guiney (Element Pictures, Ire)
PANEL 1
Real Ideas:
Seeing Is Believing
CHIARA ORIANA (The Eye Cinema)
Chiara is Duty Manager at the Eye Cinema in Galway, and has been with the cinema for 6 years.
She is involved with daily operations, customer service, training, marketing, and film scheduling
for the cinema, and her role also includes conducting Q & A’s, presenting a weekly radio film
show on Galway Bay FM and liaising with film distributors and film schools.Prior to joining the
Eye Cinema, Chiara was involved in various productions for TV and film, and is fluent in Italian,
Spanish, French and Portuguese. Chiara graduated from the Milan University College (Italy)
with a Degree in English and Spanish, and has a Masters Degree in ‘Film Direction and
Production’ the Huston Film School, NUIG.
MEAVE COOKE (Access Cinema)
Maeve has been the Director of access>CINEMA, the resource organisation for regional cultural
cinema exhibition in Ireland, since July 2007. She joined access>CINEMA in 2006 as its
Programme Manager. Previously, she worked in film and television production and as a freelance co-ordinator for FAS/Screen Training Ireland. access>CINEMA's core activity is the
booking and despatch of films for cultural cinema, on all exhibition formats on behalf of its
member groups (currently over 70). As Director of access>CINEMA, Maeve is responsible for
agreeing the general company policy, defining the organisation's artistic
programming, implementing company strategies and the promotion of the organisation.
PAUL WARD (IMC / Omniplex / Savoy / Screen)
Paul Ward has worked in the film business for 35 years with his father Leo Ward and their copartners Kevin Anderson and Paul Anderson. Paul has devoted 30 years to film distribution,
advertising and marketing, and operates the IMC and Omniplex branded cinemas throughout
the Republic of Ireland in all but 8 of the 26 counties, as well as the Savoy and Screen cinemas in
Dublin. Paul organised the French Film Film Festival in the Screen cinema for over 8 years in the
90's, has a B. Comm degree from UCD, and is qualified barrister.
SARAH GLENNIE (Irish Film Institute)
Sarah has been working professionally in the cultural realm for fourteen years in a number of
public cultural institutions. She is currently Director of the Irish Film Institute and
previously Director of the Model Arts and Niland Gallery since 2005 where she initiated a
nationally and internationally significant programme including an exhibition and unique
performance by Patti Smith, and The Eternal Now: Warhol and the Factory season comprising an
exhibition, film and music programme. Moving to Ireland from London in 1995 to work at the
Museum of Modern Art, Sarah then joined the Henry Moore Foundation Contemporary Projects
in 2001, and in 2005 was the Commissioner of Ireland's participation at the 51st Venice
Biennale 2005 for Department of Arts Sports and Tourism.
Chair: Robert Finn (Element Pictures Distribution)
PANEL 2
Real Conversations: Asif Kapadia on the track to SENNA
ASIF KAPADIA
Asif has recently directed the universally acclaimed SENNA for Working Title, a documentary on
Formula One legend Ayrton Senna. SENNA was awarded the World Cinema Audience Award at
Sundance 2011. Asif’s third feature FAR NORTH premiered at the Venice Film Fesival and was
released in the UK in January 2009. In 2005 he directed the psychological thriller THE RETURN,
for Focus Features starring Sarah Michelle Geller. His first feature film THE WARRIOR has
received great international acclaim. It was a FilmFour/The Bureau production. The film won
The Alexander Korda Award for the outstanding British film of the year at the BAFTAs with Asif
himself winning the Carl Foreman Award for special Achievement by a Director, Screenwriter or
Producer in their First Feature Film. Asif has directed insert films for the BBC and was a
producer/director of drama and documentaries for Carlton Television on SHIFT. He directed
over 30 films for the programme, and 5 of these were screened at the 1996 Toronto TV Festival.
Asif has also directed commercials, including WILD WEST for Colgate Toothpaste, which won
the Kodak Best Student Commercial Award as well as receiving a Special Jury Prize.
Chair: Alan Maher (Production Executive, BSÉ/IFB)
Panel 3
Real Ideas:
The Holy Grail: Finding an audience
ANDREW LOWE (Element Pictures, Ire)
Andrew Lowe co-founded and jointly runs Element Pictures, a film and television drama
production and distribution company based in Dublin and London, with Ed Guiney. Andrew is
the Chair of IBEC’s Audiovisual Federation and is a board member of the Dublin Fringe Festival.
EAMONN BOWLES (Magnolia Pictures, USA)
Eamonn Bowles is President of Magnolia Pictures, the distribution arm of Todd Wagner and
Mark Cuban’s 2929 Entertainment. Bowles started Magnolia in September 2001, with partner
Bill Banowsky, concentrating on independent and foreign films acquired and released on a
modest scale and amassing specialized theatres strategically around the country. Early film
successes included the Israeli film, Late Marriage, the French thriller READ MY LIPS, and the
controversial documentary CAPTURING THE FRIEDMANS. In 2004, Cuban and Wagner,
formerly investors in the company, bought the company outright, merging its theatres with the
Landmark Theatre chain. Magnolia has since been a pioneer in developing alternative
distribution strategies, such as the day and date multi-window release, to create efficient
economies for the increasingly challenging theatrical marketplace. Some of Magnolia’s more
prominent releases include ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM; ONG BAK: THE THAI
WARRIOR, CONTROL ROOM, THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN, JESUS CAMP, THE HOST, PULSE,
END OF THE CENTURY: THE STORY OF THE RAMONES, BUBBLE and CRAZY LOVE amongst
others.
JEREMY BAXTER (Protagonist, UK)
Jeremy Baxter has been with Protagonist since its inception in 2008, and previously held posts
at Focus Features and Universal Pictures International as Manager of Worldwide Acquisitions.
Commercially minded and creatively spirited, Protagonist is a London based international sales
and financing company committed to strong relationships with film-makers, investors and
distributors. Shareholders include Film4, Vertigo Films and Ingenious Media. Recent titles from
Protagonist include HOW I LIVE NOW, THE DEEP BLUE SEA, SUBMARINE, MONSTERS,
STREETDANCE, KILL LIST, SNOWTOWN, BEL AMI.
MICHAEL PASZT (Raven Banner, Can)
With 10 years experience in the field of worldwide feature film development, production and
distribution, Michael Paszt is considered one of the most respected names in the area of
independent film. Over the last five years as Executive V.P Acquisitions & Canadian Distribution
for Cinemavault Releasing International, Michael acquired, developed and promoted over 300
feature films, including such titles as LYMELIFE, winner of the Fipreci Critics Prize at the
Toronto International Film Festival and Official Selection at the Sundance Film Festival,
I.O.U.S.A., INTERVIEW which screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film
Festival and London International Film Festival and Brendan Muldowney’s debut feature
SAVAGE. Raven Banner Entertainment is Michael’s newest venture formed with partners
Andrew T Hunt and James Fler.
SAMANTHA HORLEY (Salt, UK)
Managing Director of Salt, Samantha Horley has more than 15 years’ experience in international
sales, working with prestigious companies including PolyGram, Summit and Myriad. She has
handled sales for a diverse and impressive array of films including box office hits Fargo,
American Pie, The Blair Witch Project, Memento, U‐571 and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
Samantha has been Managing Director of Lumina Films (as Salt was formerly known) since
September 2004. Samantha is also Executive Producer on Killing Bono and upcoming films Dirty
Girl and Grabbers. In 2010 Samantha founded “The Vipers Nest”, a creative collective of 13 firsttime filmmakers, to champion, encourage and support filmmakers who are intent on making
commercial films in the UK
STEVEN SCHNEIDER (Room 101, USA)
Steven Schneider is a film producer, critic, and scholar hailing from New York. He was a PhD
Candidate in Philosophy at Harvard University, and in Cinema Studies at NYU's Tisch School of
the Arts. He received his MA degree in Philosophy from the University of London. He is the
general editor of the best-selling 1001 Movies You Must see Before You Die, and it's multiple spin
offs. Schneider left teaching, writing, and academia to move to Los Angeles, CA and pursue a
career as a feature film producer full time. After the incredible success of PARANORMAL
ACTIVITY, Schneider has carved a place in the top echelon of Horror producers in Hollywood.
His credits include BACKMASK, FIRESTARTER, PET SEMATARY, PAWN SHOP CHRONICLES,
THE LORDS OF SALEM, AREA 5, THE TALL MAN, FASE 7, INSIDIOUS, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2
and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.
Chair: Grainne Humphries (Director, JDIFF)
Panel 4
Real Business:
Hard Cash
ANNE SHEEN (Prescience, UK)
Anne is the Director of Film Finance at Prescience. Sheehan is a UK chartered accountant with
specialist experience in film finance, production and distribution. At Prescience she has overall
responsibility for the financial assessment and business affairs of all the films that Aegis Film
Fund and the Prescience Funds finance. Prior to joining Prescience in 2009, as AS Media
Consulting she acted for a number of Film Fund clients. She devised Visible Films; an EIS
investment for Ecosse Films, Recorded Picture Company and Samuelson Productions. From
1999 to 2003 she was Director of Finance and Business Affairs at Renaissance Films. She began
her film career as an international operational auditor for Warner Bros. and was financial
controller for Palace Pictures, BBC Films, PolyGram Film International and FilmFour.
LUCAS WEBB (Ingenious Media & Fox Searchlight, UK)
Lucas is currently the Director of Production and Acquisitions for Ingenious Media and Fox
Searchlight UK, responsible for identifying British feature films for production and distribution
under the Searchlight banner, at any stage in their production life cycle. Previously he headed
up the UK office of The Weinstein Company as Vice President of Acquisitions and CoProductions. He brought in and oversaw production on MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. He also
participated in every major film festival as part of the acquisitions team, during which time TWC
acquired BLUE VALENTINE, COMPANY MEN, THE TILLMAN STORY, SUBMARINE, DIRTY GIRL
and CORIOLANUS amongst other titles. Lucas joined TWC in January 2011. Prior to TWC, Lucas
ran the UK office of Disney’s Miramax under Daniel Battsek and production head Keri Putnam,
as Senior Manager of UK Production & European Acquisitions from 2006 to 2011. Productions
included BRIDESHESAD REVISITED, BECOMING JANE and VENUS. Acquisitions included THE
DIVING BELL & THE BUTTERFLY, HAPPY GO LUCKY and TSOTSI. Prior to Miramax, Lucas
worked in local production for Disney/Buena Vista UK, from January 2004.
MICHAEL HENRY (Limelight EIS Film Fund, UK)
Michael specialised in entertainment law since qualifying as a solicitor (England and Wales) in
1981. He has been the principal author and editor of the Entertainment Law volumes of
Butterworth’s Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents (the largest collection of entertainment
law precedents) since 1986 and is the author of nine other standard legal works of reference.
No longer a practising lawyer he has raised approximately £100 million in film finance since
2002 and has established five successful film funds including Limelight VCT plc, the only
venture capital trust ever authorised by the UK Financial Services Authority to invest in films.
He obtained CFA UK Investment Management Certificate in 2005, served as Limelight VCT
Investment Manager from 2005 to 2010 and is currently investment manager of Limelight EIS
Film Fund. He formed FSA-regulated Park Place Financial Strategy in 2005 and since this time it
has acted as investment manager and promoter of a number of collective investment schemes
and Enterprise Investment Scheme companies. He established UK Film Trustee Company
Limited in 2010 to act as a “not for profit” security trustee and collection agent in film finance
transactions. UKFTC is run by Louisa Bewley the former Managing Director of the National Film
Trustee Company. He established Limelight EIS Film Fund in 2011 to invest in British Qualifying
film production and sales companies. He has been executive producer of a number of awardwinning films including FISH TANK and MOON as well as a number of films which have been
shot in Ireland including THE DAISY CHAIN, PERRIER’S BOUNTY, GRABBERS and WHOLE
LOTTA SOLE.
PAUL McGOWAN (Shoot For The Moon, Ire)
Paul McGowan is Commercial Director of Soho Moon Pictures Limited, an Irish company
focusing on the production of high quality feature documentaries, television drama and films.
For the previous 37 years, Paul worked for the Irish firm of KPMG including 27 years as a
partner. Paul was originally a corporate finance expert and later specialised in international
corporate taxation considering the two skills to be strongly complementary. Although not
exclusively focused on the media sector, Paul has had a significant involvement with the film
industry over the last 25 years in terms of both financing and tax structuring. In the last year,
Paul has acted as executive producer on “Dreams of a Life”, a documentary directed by Carol
Morley and financed mainly by Film4, UK Film Council and the Irish Film Board. He is also
executive producer on “I Was A Soldier (II)”, a documentary being directed by Mike Grigsby. In
parallel with, but independent of Soho Moon, Paul has established ‘Shoot For The Moon’, an
investment fund focused on providing gap financing for high quality feature documentaries.
The initial target funding is €1 million of which €600,000 has been raised to date. Among the
productions being considered as investments by the Fund is a feature documentary to be
directed by Werner Herzog and a film on the struggle for survival between man and elephant in
the Assam province of India to be directed by Tom Roberts (“A Company of Soldiers”,
“Insurgency”). Throughout his career, Paul has held a number of senior management and
representative positions including Economic Affairs Committee of Dublin Chamber of
Commerce, Chairman of the Irish Funds Association, Head of the Irish KPMG Tax Practice, Global
Head of Financial Services Tax for KPMG and was appointed by the government as one of the
Irish representatives on the EU Arbitration Panel on Transfer Pricing. He holds a number of
directorships including being Chairman of Aegon Ireland plc and is Chairman of a group
established by the Irish Prime Minister to advise on the development of the Investment Funds
industry in Ireland.
Chair: Mark Byrne (Head Of Legal Affairs, BSÉ/IFB)