, Willem Dafoe and Harvey Keitel, and Widescreen's Frances McDormand, Parker Posey and director Mary Harron. The merger also reunites several former William Morris colleagues.
AIN was launched two years ago by Charles Finch, Luc Roeg and Vanessa Pereira after they exited WMA's London office. Widescreen was founded in October 2000 by Frank Frattaroli, former vice president and co-head of the agency's New York talent department.
Former WMA chief Arnold Rifkin also owns a small stake in AIN along with his business partner, Bruce Willis, and both sit on the company's creative board.
AIN will provide the financing for the new joint venture. It continues its first-look deal with StudioCanal, which was renewed in January for another year, and has an ongoing development relationship with USA Films.
"It was always our dream to find a partner in New York who could build with us a management and production business focused on representing like-minded intelligent independent artists," Finch said. "We have worked with Frank for some time and value his taste and vision."
AIN's clients include Monica Bellucci, Julia Ormond, Gerard Depardieu and Sophie Marceau. Other names on Widescreen's list are Lili Taylor, Benno Furmann, Annabella Sciorra and directors Michael Cuesta and Daniel Minahan.
After exec producing the Brit box office hit "Mike Bassett; England Manager" and David Cronenberg's "Spider," which is expected to surface at Cannes, AIN is set to produce "The Romford Matador," starring Ryan Reynolds, which Momentum Pictures will distribute in Britain.
"This year we will put two additional films into production, both of which were developed inhouse," Roeg said. "We expect Frank and our combined clients will bring us opportunity to make more movies, and we will bring them additional access to finance available in the international market."
Reuters/Variety
Cruise, Theron to star in remake of French thriller (2008-12-19)Venture joins stars on two sides of Atlantic (2002-04-08)2 (11285)
