Leventhal was a leading figure at the UK’s Channel 4 and a former partner at Hal Films.
Colin Leventhal, a former Channel 4 executive and Hal Films partner, has died aged 73. He reportedly died on August 20 following illness.
Born in London, Leventhal began his career at the BBC in 1974 and was head of copyright at the public broadcaster when he left in 1981 to help set up Channel 4 as a founding director.
He remained at Channel 4 for 16 years, taking on roles including director of acquisitions and managing director of Channel Four International. He led FilmFour International, working alongside Channel 4 head of film David Aukin,...
Colin Leventhal, a former Channel 4 executive and Hal Films partner, has died aged 73. He reportedly died on August 20 following illness.
Born in London, Leventhal began his career at the BBC in 1974 and was head of copyright at the public broadcaster when he left in 1981 to help set up Channel 4 as a founding director.
He remained at Channel 4 for 16 years, taking on roles including director of acquisitions and managing director of Channel Four International. He led FilmFour International, working alongside Channel 4 head of film David Aukin,...
- 8/25/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦
- ScreenDaily
Colin Leventhal, the highly respected and well liked UK film executive, has died at the age of 73 after an illness. His death was confirmed to Deadline by several people close to him and his family.
Leventhal joined the BBC in 1974 as a lawyer in the Programme Contracts department, rising to become head of copyright. He left the public broadcaster in 1981 to join the team setting up Channel 4 as a founding director when the commercial network launched in November 1982.
His time at C4 saw him take on several roles including director of acquisitions and business affairs, and managing director of Channel Four International, when he also oversaw FilmFour International (later to become Film4 Productions). Working alongside David Aukin, C4’s Head of Film, the pair developed the station into a backer of high-quality, critically acclaimed feature films, including Four Weddings And A Funeral, The Madness Of King George, Secrets And Lies,...
Leventhal joined the BBC in 1974 as a lawyer in the Programme Contracts department, rising to become head of copyright. He left the public broadcaster in 1981 to join the team setting up Channel 4 as a founding director when the commercial network launched in November 1982.
His time at C4 saw him take on several roles including director of acquisitions and business affairs, and managing director of Channel Four International, when he also oversaw FilmFour International (later to become Film4 Productions). Working alongside David Aukin, C4’s Head of Film, the pair developed the station into a backer of high-quality, critically acclaimed feature films, including Four Weddings And A Funeral, The Madness Of King George, Secrets And Lies,...
- 8/24/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
During her keynote at Film London’s Production Finance Market, Alison Thompson remarks on the glut of films made today, but also sees some bright spots like the arrival of Netflix.
British sales veteran Alison Thompson said market conditions for sellers are as tough now as they have ever been.
“As we all know, the situation now is just about as bad as it can be,” Thompson said during her keynote speech at the Film London Production Finance Market.
“The television business, which was frankly driving the boom in film for 20 years, suddenly came a cropper so that independent distributors were losing their TV output deals, which were essentially underpinning the business they were doing.
“That, combined with the change to the DVD market - we’ve had a double hit. It has been really, really challenging. In fact, we are working in the most difficult time I have worked in in my entire career.”
Even so, Thompson...
British sales veteran Alison Thompson said market conditions for sellers are as tough now as they have ever been.
“As we all know, the situation now is just about as bad as it can be,” Thompson said during her keynote speech at the Film London Production Finance Market.
“The television business, which was frankly driving the boom in film for 20 years, suddenly came a cropper so that independent distributors were losing their TV output deals, which were essentially underpinning the business they were doing.
“That, combined with the change to the DVD market - we’ve had a double hit. It has been really, really challenging. In fact, we are working in the most difficult time I have worked in in my entire career.”
Even so, Thompson...
- 10/15/2014
- by geoffrey@macnab.demon.co.uk (Geoffrey Macnab)
- ScreenDaily
LONDON -- British production and financing company Priority Pictures, founded by the oldest new kids on the block, steps into the European arena at a time widely regarded by industry observers as the hardest ever for independent moviemakers. Set up by the debonair former Channel Four management executive Colin Leventhal and feisty U.K.-based Australian straight talker Marion Pilowsky, Priority is gearing up for its first campaign at the Marche du Film next month in Cannes. Priority will also draw on the experience of former Miramax acquisitions chief Trea Hoving, who is a card-carrying consultant advising on everything from script acquisition to development and production. Hoving is also a consultant with Focus Features, helping the Universal specialty arm to expand its strong reputation for being a director-led company across the rest of Europe.
- 4/18/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Focus Features has struck a two-year first-look pact with Priority Pictures, the U.K. film development, finance and production company formed in June by Colin Leventhal and Marion Pilowsky. The deal -- which gives Focus worldwide rights, including international sales, to Priority films made under the current deal -- encompasses advisory arrangements with Leventhal and Priority consultant Trea Hoving on potential acquisitions of European-based films for Focus to distribute. Focus already has a similar deal with Stephane Sperry's Paris-based Liaisons Films. The London-based Priority staff will work closely with Focus president of production John Lyons and Lee Magiday, Focus' U.K.-based vp and European acquisitions and productions executive.
- 10/12/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two of the United Kingdom's most established film and television industry names -- Colin Leventhal and Marion Pilowsky -- have teamed to form Priority Pictures, the duo said Tuesday. The pair aims to develop, finance and produce projects in the $7 million-$20 million range. The company's first production, Three Bad Men, will be helmed by Paul Weiland (City Slickers 2) from a script by Paul Straughan. Billed as a black comedy, the movie details the story of three hit men on the run who decide to change their lives. Scheduled to begin shooting in the fall, the budget is set at about $25 million, Leventhal said.
- 6/23/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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