Looking Glass Films, an L.A. shop under the aegis of executive producer June Guterman, has gained an infusion of international filmmaking talent, entering into an alliance with London-based Tomboy Films, overseen by managing directors Glynis Murray and Barnaby Spurrier. Per the deal, Looking Glass will handle U.S. representation for Tomboy’s roster of filmmakers. Conversely, Tomboy gains U.K. representation for the Looking Glass ensemble of directorial talent.
Looking Glass thus gains for stateside projects such notable Tomboy filmmakers as Stephen Frears (The Queen, The Grifters), John Madden (Shakespeare In Love, The Debt, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Kirk Jones (Waking Ned Devine, Nanny McPhee, Everybody’s Fine, What To Expect When You’re Expecting). Meanwhile Tomboy will look to procure select U.K. assignments for Looking Glass filmmakers including David Mamet and Jean Jacques Annaud.
Tomboy and Looking Glass feature a mix of filmmaking talent who span multiple disciplines, including features, TV and commercials. The Tomboy Films roster–now available in the U.S. via Looking Glass–is comprised of directors Frears, Madden and Jones, Andrea Arnold, Andrew Gaynord, Ben Caron, Ben Miller, Benjamin Till, Clio Barnard, Dominic Brigstocke, Fez, Gregory Rood, Hugh O’Conor, Jeremy Jeffs, Joe Cornish, John Carney, John Crowley, Justin Chadwick, Karan Kandhari, Lenny Abrahamson, Marcus Tomlinson, Mark Mylod, Matthew Huntley, Oliver Smyth, Patrick Cadell, Paul Walker, Peter Capaldi, Richard Loncraine, Sandra Goldbacher, Shane Meadows, Simon Cheek, and Zam Salim.
The Looking Glass directorial lineup includes Annaud, Mamet, Alfonso Arau, Suzuya Bobo, Laurent Briet, Kerry Conran, Renny Harlin, Lesli Linka Glatter, Fatima Andrade Koehler, Andy Dugan, Barbara McDonough, Francine McDougall, Paul McGuigan, Dito Montiel, Marine Panossian, Chris Rock, Mark Simmons, Cliff Watts and Marlon Wayans.
Many of the directors have successfully crossed over from features and other long-form fare to commercials and branded content. For example, on the Tomboy side, Jones’ ad endeavors include directing spots for McDonald’s and Werthers. Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl, The First Grader) helmed digital content for the London Olympics. Walker (Shameless) recently directed Wieden+Kennedy’s initial work for Tesco. And Sandra Goldbacher (Emmy nominated for the BBC series The Hour) has directed spots for Special K and Ferrero Rocher.
As for the multiple disciplinary exploits of the Looking Glass directors, prime examples include Mamet (The Spanish Prisoner, Heist, House of Games) who has helmed for Ford), McGuigan (Wicker Park and TV shows such as Smash and Sherlock) who directed a Radio One spot, and Montiel (Empire State, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) with ad fare for NKLA.
Guterman said that Looking Glass Films has been producing a lot of work internationally, noting, “Commercial production is a world market today. In addition to our US.. jobs, we’ve been working with London, Brazil, Singapore, and the rest of Europe.” She mused that she’s “begun to feel like a production company/travel agent – luckily we all love to travel , and both companies’ rosters are equally comfortable shooting in the U.S., U.K. and anywhere else in the world.”
In terms of UK representation for her directors, Guterman sought a very specific fit. “I wanted people who could properly rep A-list directors and do a great job executing production, as well as partnering with us in the process–a hands-on approach is critical when dealing with major talents,” she said. “Also, production is different in every country. Tomboy Films has great relationships with U.K. agencies and an exceptional understanding of that market.” In addition to their respective rosters, both Looking Glass Films and Tomboy Films have off-roster relationships with directors available for special projects that expand options for brands and agencies.
Tomboy’s Murray observed that the production house has “an unusually eclectic roster and finding a partner who is attuned to the way we work and the caliber of directors we represent was very important for us. We are confident that Looking Glass Films and Tomboy will be a very successful combination.”
Recent work produced by Looking Glass Films includes the SK-II launch campaign with Kate Bosworth (via Leo Burnett) helmed by Cliff Watts, who also photographed 2012 Sexiest Woman Alive Mila Kunis for the November cover of Esquire. Tomboy Films’ recent work includes projects for Churchill Insurance, Tesco, 02 and Ferrero Rocher. Tomboy was one of the official digital content providers for the London Olympics.
The Looking Glass Films and Tomboy Films rosters are repped in the U.S. by Sarah Holbrook on the East Coast, Chris Breneman in the Midwest, and Marla Mossberg on the West Coast.
Michelle Satter To Be Honored At Sundance Film Festival Gala
The nonprofit Sundance Institute today announced details for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival’s gala fundraiser, Celebrating Sundance Institute, which will take place on Friday, January 24, 2025 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Utah. The event will be an evening in celebration of Michelle Satter, founding sr. director of artist programs at Sundance Institute, for her longstanding commitment to nurturing artists and cultivating independent film through the Sundance Labs, where visionary artists convene to develop groundbreaking projects through an in-depth creative process, for the past four decades. The annual Vanguard Awards will be presented during the evening to Sean Wang, writer and director of Dìdi, and Julian Brave NoiseCat and Emily Kassie, co-directors of Sugarcane, who premiered their films at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
The annual gala enables the nonprofit to raise funds to support independent artists year-round through labs, grants, and public programming that nurture artists from all over the world. The 2025 event is made possible with the generous support of Google TV. The Festival will take place from January 23–February 2, 2025, in person in Park City and Salt Lake City, with a selection of titles available online from January 30–February 2, 2025 for audiences across the country to discover bold independent storytelling.
“For over four decades Michelle has been devoted to truly championing independent storytellers,” said Amanda Kelso, acting CEO of Sundance Institute. “She has encouraged artists to own their voice, learn their craft, become fierce leaders, and develop their resilience in our changing ecosystem. Her life-long commitment to supporting artists, especially in underrepresented... Read More