Following a Best Live Action Short Oscar win last year for writer-director Aneil Karia’s The Long Goodbye (co-written with Riz Ahmed), production company Somesuch is launching a film development and production arm headed up by Scott O’Donnell, a BAFTA-winning producer best known for his work on Surge (2020) and Home (2016). Kicking off the new venture is director Leo Leigh’s feature debut, Sweet Sue, backed by BBC Film, sold by HanWay and produced by O’Donnell.
Founded in 2010 by Sally Campbell and Tim Nash, Somesuch has a reputation for pushing boundaries in the worlds of short film, music videos, branded content and advertising. Having produced Oscar, BAFTA and BIFA-winning short film work over the past decade and representing the likes of directors Lynne Ramsey, Raine Allen-Miller and Tom Hardiman in the commercialmaking space, Somesuch is now carving out its own path in the feature film arena. In addition to Sweet Sue which was wrapped in 2022, Somesuch’s feature slate currently in development with BBC Film includes experimental filmmaker Beatrice Gibson’s debut and Leigh’s sophomore project.
Firmly established in commercial spaces, storytelling comes as standard to Somesuch projects–the new offering is an extension of past work, and a natural evolution of the existing infrastructure. In 2017, Somesuch picked up its first BAFTA for Daniel Mulloy’s Home and produced Crystal Moselle’s feature documentary Sophia for Showtime.
“Having produced award-winning narrative work for the past 12 years, the time feels right to continue Somesuch’s expansion into feature film. We will keep doing what we do best–bringing fresh and unconventional stories to the world, from the most exciting new filmmaking talent,” said Somesuch co-founder Nash.
O’Donnell added, “Somesuch has achieved phenomenal success with its short form output over the last 10 years, through the development and championing of directors with strong and interesting voices. By applying this same approach to feature films we aim to highlight new talent to the industry with films that offer unique and original perspectives.”
Cultivate.Media Signs Director Stefan Pflug For U.S. Spot Representation
Danish director Stefan Pflug has signed for exclusive U.S. spot representation with bicoastal Cultivate.Media, the commercial and content production company overseen by managing director/executive producer Mark Thomas and executive producer Stuart Wilson. Cultivate.Media is the first U.S. spot roost for Pflug, who is represented in France by Frenzy Paris, Le Berg Berlin in Germany, Holy Ravioli in Denmark, and Thirsty Film in Finland and Sweden. Pflug's filmography includes memorable work for major brands and lesser known alike, including Arla, Danske Spil, Adidas, AXA, the PlayStation game trailer for PayDay 3, Danone, Pfizer, Puma, Santander, and Vivo. “When I first screened Stefan’s work, I came away with this impression: his film can give you a warm smile or even cause you to shed a tear, but it always compels you to think,” said Thomas. “Rare is the filmmaker who possesses those attributes. It’s the visceral reaction followed by the contemplation of what you experienced when you screen Stefan’s reel that I can only describe as total engagement with his film.” “I feel that my reel is now in a place where the timing is right for an expansion in the U.S. market,” said Pflug. “My conversations with Mark and Stu have been really substantial and comfortable and I trust their evaluation of the work that I have done, because they took the time to dig in and analyze it. Further, I like them as individuals, and we share a very clear ambition for the kind of work I want to do, and the journey I am on as a director.” Pflug’s love of professional sports--the immediacy of the event, the focus, and yes, the emotion--led, unexpectedly, to his career in advertising: after earning a Master’s in Business, he worked in sports sponsorships and... Read More