UMedia

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uMedia
Industry Funding-Production and Investment-Visual effects-International Sales-Distribution
Founded 2010
Founder(s) Nadia Khamlichi
Adrian Politowski
Jeremy Burdek
Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Employees 100
Website www.umedia.eu

uMedia is a film studio founded by Nadia Khamlichi, Jeremy Burdek and Adrian Politowski, which encompasses the activities of fundraising (uFund, formerly called Motion Investment Group), production and investment (uFilm), visual effects (uFX), international sales (uConnect), and distribution (uDream).

Activity and organisation of the uMedia group

History

Jeremy Burdek, Nadia Khamlichi and Adrian Politowski

Nadia Khamlichi, Adrian Politowski and Jeremy Burdek created Motion Investment Group (renamed uFund in 2010) in 2004. After 109 million euros were raised[1] via the Tax Shelter in Belgium and 78 films cofinanced[1] up till 2009, they decided to expand their cinematographic activities and founded uMedia in 2010.

Structure

uMedia is the parent company of the following businesses: uFund, uFilm, uConnect, uFX and uDream.

uFund-Fundraising

Formerly called Motion Investment Group, uFund, the financing arm of uMedia, is responsible for fundraising via the mechanism of the Tax Shelter.[2] Raising over 50 million euros a year, uFund finances between 30 and 40 projects every year and is one of the main sources of audiovisual financing in Belgium in 2011.

uFilm-Production & Investment

uFilm, the production and investment arm of uMedia, is involved in:

  • co-production and investment of Tax Shelter funds in a selection of films
  • executive production in Belgium of international films
  • development of original projects in various genres (thrillers, dramas, comedy, etc.).

uConnect-International Sales

uConnect is the latest addition to the group. It manages international sales and financing for the group. The company sells movies produced by third-parties as well as uMedia’s own in-house productions and coproductions. Based in London, uConnect is headed by Peter Rogers, the former President of Lakeshore International, who brings with him 20 years of experience with credits such as “Million Dollar Baby”, “Runaway Bride”, “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and the “Underworld” series.

uFX-Visual effects

uFX is a visual effects studio in Brussels and London which is involved in: script breakdown and budgeting, pre-production, design, supervision of visual effects in 2D and 3D, compositing, matte-painting, digital grading and title sequence design. The last uFX film to go on general release was Jackboots on Whitehall, for which the uFX team carried out 1244 shots. uFX is currently working on various international projects including:

  • The Expatriate – A film with Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight, World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles) and Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace) from the director Philipp Stölzl.
  • Snow White - A black and white film inspired by Grimm’s fairy tales, in the world of bullfighting and Spain of the 1920s. With Maribel Verdu (El Laberinto del fauno, Y Tu Mama también)

uDream-Distribution

uDream is a film distribution company in the Benelux countries. The uDream team is from both independent distribution and the studio world. The uDream line-up includes Les Lyonnais (from Olivier Marchal, with Gérard Lanvin and Tcheky Karyo), Hollywood (with Florence Foresti and Jamel Debbouze), Un Monstre à Paris (from Bibo Bergeron, produced by EuropaCorp), and Nicostratos (from Olivier Horlait, with Emir Kusturica and François-Xavier Demaison). About fifteen films will be distributed by uDream in 2011 in the Benelux countries.

Some awards and nominations for uMedia films

  • The Artist – Best Actor award for Jean Dujardin at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival[3]
  • Hors-la-loi – Official selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival[3] and Oscar[4] nomination in 2011 for Best Foreign Film
  • The Last Circus – Silver Lion and prize for best scenario at the 2010 Venice Film Festival[5]
  • Fly Me to the Moon – Nominated for an Oscar[4] in 2009 in the Best Animated Feature category
  • The Vintner’s Luck – Nominated at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival[6]
  • Vinyan – Official selection at the 2008 Venice[5] and Toronto Film Festivals[6]
  • Julia – Official selection at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival[7]
  • Khadak - Lion du Futur at the 2006 Venice Film Festival,[5] Swarovski Cultural Innovation Award at the 2006 Toronto Film Festival,[6] nominated for the Jury prize at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival[8]

Filmography

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 uFund figures (ex-Motion Investment Group).
  2. ↑ Tax Shelter document by Belgian Ministry of Finance
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cannes Film Festival
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Academy Awards
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Venice Film Festival
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Toronto International Film Festival
  7. ↑ Berlinale
  8. ↑ Sundance Film Festival

External links

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