Sigma Films
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Sigma Films[1] is a film company based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company was formed in 1996 by Gillian Berrie, David Mackenzie and Alastair Mackenzie - a producer, director and actor respectively.[2][3]
History
Together they made the shorts California Sunshine and Somersault before going on to make their debut feature The Last Great Wilderness, which was largely funded by lottery money and co-produced by Zentropa,[3] for which they were joined by new young producer Angus Pigott.
Following the success of their first feature David Mackenzie then went on to direct Young Adam while Gillian strengthened links with co-producer Zentropa, spawning a prodigious co-production relationship which has seen Sigma contribute to a huge number of films including Lars Von Trier's Dogville and Manderlay, Thomas Vinterburg's Dear Wendy and Oscar nominated After The Wedding from Susanne Bier.[4]
Furthering the relationship with Zentropa are Andrea Arnold's Red Road and Morag Mackinnon's Donkeys. Both films are part of the Advance Party scheme created from an idea by Gillian Berrie, Sisse Graum Jorgensen, and Lars Von Trier.[3]
Gillian and David's second collaboration was Hallam Foe, starring Jamie Bell and Sophia Myles. Always keen to experiment the production embraced the then zeitgeist medium of blogging. The erstwhile blogger Hugh Macleod mentored Colin Kennedy while he wrote a commentary on production aimed at providing a transparent account of the movie-making process.
In 2011, they celebrated their 15th anniversary with the release of David Mackenzie's You Instead.[2]
Sigma Films have also been home to the short films of Johnny Barrington (Trout and Terra Firma) - and the music video from Colin Kennedy for We Are The Physics[5] and Colin's first short film proper, I Love Luci. Colin Kennedy's first feature, Swung, is due to be released in 2015.[needs update]
As well as nurturing writing and directing talent Sigma also brings on new producers and have seen Anna Duffield (Trout, Terra Firma, Donkeys), Carrie Comerford (Red Road) and Brian Coffey (Swung, The Legend of Barney Thomson, Starred Up, Citadel, I Love Luci) begin their producing careers.
Sigma also co-produced Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin starring Scarlett Johansson. The company has been the producing vehicle for the majority of David Mackenzie’s features including Hallam Foe, Perfect Sense, You Instead and Starred Up, which has picked up more than 12 awards and 11 award nominations.
Sigma recently produced Robert Carlyle's directorial debut The Legend of Barney Thomson starring Robert Carlyle, Emma Thompson and Ray Winstone, opened Edinburgh International Film Festival and was released by Icon on July 24, 2015. The film won Best Film at the 2015 Scottish BAFTAs. Director Colin Kennedy’s first-feature, Swung, also premiered at EIFF and was released in the UK on December 11, 2015.
Sigma also have a charity arm, JUMPCUT, dedicated to providing opportunities in the screen industries to young people. The 2014 JUMPCUT Summer Production short film, Dropping Off Michael has won several awards from international film festivals.
Film City Glasgow
Sigma is also responsible for Film City Glasgow, a production and post-production facility located in the old Govan Town Hall.[4] The building is home to post-production companies Serious and Savalas and production companies including Keo, Finestripe and Hopscotch. It has also been used as a studio for television productions including CBBC's School of Silence and Channel 4's Iron Chef UK.[6]
Filmography
| Film | Year | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wanting and Getting | 1995 | David Mackenzie | Short Film |
| California Sunshine | 1997 | David Mackenzie | Short Film |
| Somersault | 2000 | David Mackenzie | Short Film |
| Marcie's Dowry | 2000 | David Mackenzie | Short Film |
| The Last Great Wilderness | 2002 | David Mackenzie | |
| Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | 2002 | Lone Scherfig | In Association with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Young Adam | 2003 | David Mackenzie | In Association with Recorded Picture Company |
| Dogville | 2003 | Lars von Trier | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Brothers | 2004 | Susanne Bier | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Dear Frankie | 2004 | Shona Auerbach | In Association with Scorpio Films |
| Drabnet | 2005 | Per Fly | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Zozo | 2005 | Josef Fares | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Manderlay | 2005 | Lars von Trier | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| The Judge | 2005 | Gert Fredholm | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| 1:1 | 2006 | Annette K. Olesen | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| When Children Play in the Sky | 2006 | Lorenzo Hendel | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Red Road | 2006 | Andrea Arnold | In Co-Operation with Advanced Party Scheme & Zentropa Entertainments |
| After the Wedding | 2006 | Susanne Bier | Co-Production with Zentropa Entertainments |
| Trout | 2007 | Jonny Barrington | Short Film |
| Dog Altogether | 2007 | Paddy Considine | Short Film, Co-Production with Warp Films |
| Hallam Foe | 2007 | David Mackenzie | |
| Terra Firma | 2008 | Jonny Barrington | Short Film |
| I Love Luci | 2010 | Colin Kennedy | Short Film |
| Donkeys | 2010 | Morag MacKinnon | In Co-Operation with Advanced Party Scheme & Zentropa Entertainments |
| Perfect Sense | 2011 | David Mackenzie | In Association with Zentropa Entertainments |
| You Instead | 2011 | David Mackenzie | |
| Citadel | 2012 | Ciaran Foy | In Association with Blinder Films |
| Under the Skin | 2013 | Jonathan Glazer | Co-Production with Nick Wechsler Productions |
| Starred Up | 2013 | David Mackenzie | |
| Dropping Off Michael | 2015 | Zam Salim | Short Film, In Association with Jumpcut |
| The Legend of Barney Thomson | 2015 | Robert Carlyle | In Association with Trinity Works Entertainment |
| Swung | 2015 | Colin Kennedy | |
| Ending | 2017 | James Lees | Short |
| Hush | 2017 | Olaf de Fleur Johannesson | In Association with Thruline Entertainment |
Awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | After the Wedding | Best Foreign Language Film of the Year | Nominated |
BAFTA Awards
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Red Road | Most Promising Newcomer (Andrea Arnold) | Won |
| 2008 | Dog Altogether | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2015 | Under the Skin | Best British Film | Nominated |
| Best Original Music (Mica Levi) | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | California Sunshine | Best Short Film | Nominated |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Film | Win |
| Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Win | ||
| Best Actor in a Scottish Film (Ewan McGregor) | Win | ||
| Best Actress in a Scottish Film (Tilda Swinton) | Win | ||
| 2004 | Dear Frankie | Best Director (Shona Auerbach) | Nominated |
| Best First Time Performance (Jack McElhone) | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Film | Win |
| Best Director (Andrea Arnold) | Win | ||
| Best Actor in a Scottish Film (Tony Curran) | Win | ||
| Best Actress in a Scottish Film (Kate Dickie) | Win | ||
| Best Screenplay (Andrea Arnold) | Win | ||
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Film | Nominated |
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor (Jamie Bell) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress (Sophia Myles) | Win | ||
| 2011 | Donkeys | Best Feature Film | Win |
| Best Director (Morag McKinnon) | Nominated | ||
| Best Writer (Colin McLaren) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor/Actress - Film (James Cosmo) | Win | ||
| Best Actor/Actress - Film (Brian Pettifer) | Nominated | ||
| Audience Award - Favourite Scottish Film | Nominated | ||
| Perfect Sense | Best Feature Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Nominated | ||
| Audience Award - Favourite Scottish Film | Nominated | ||
| You Instead | Audience Award - Favourite Scottish Film | Nominated | |
| I Love Luci | Best Short Film | Win | |
| 2012 | Citadel | Best Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Feature Film | Win |
| Best Directing in Film or TV | Win | ||
| Best Actor - Film (Jack O'Connell) | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | The Legend of Barney Thomson | Best Feature Film | Win |
| Best Directing in Film or Television (Robert Carlyle) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor - Film (Robert Carlyle) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress - Film (Emma Thompson) | Win | ||
| Swung | Best Actress - Film (Elena Anaya) | Nominated | |
| Best Actress - Film (Elizabeth McGovern) | Nominated | ||
| Dropping Off Michael | Best Short Film | Nominated |
Berlin International Film Festival
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas | Win |
| Silver Berlin Bear - Best Film Music | Win | ||
| Golden Berlin Bear | Nominated |
British Independent Film Awards
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor (Ewan McGregor) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress (Tilda Swinton) | Nominated | ||
| 2006 | Red Road | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| Best Actor (Tony Curran) | Win | ||
| Best Actress (Kate Dickie) | Win | ||
| Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Martin Compston) | Nominated | ||
| Douglas Hickox Award (Andrea Arnold) | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay (David Mackenzie & Ed Whitmore) | Nominated | ||
| Best Technical Achievement (David Mackenzie & Colin Monie for Music) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor (Jamie Bell) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress (Sophia Myles) | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | You Instead | Best Achievement in Production | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Nominated | ||
| Best Achievement in Production | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor (Jack O'Connell) | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor (Ben Mendelson) | Win | ||
| Best Supporting Actor (Rupert Friend) | Nominated | ||
| Under the Skin | Best Director (Jonathan Glazer) | Nominated | |
| Best Technical Achievement (Johnnie Burn for Sound Design) | Nominated | ||
| Best Technical Achievement (Mica Levi for Music) | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson) | Nominated |
Cannes Film Festival
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Young Adam | Un Certain Regard | Nominated |
| Dogville | Palme d'Or | Nominated | |
| 2006 | Red Road | Jury Prize | Win |
| Palme d'Or | Nominated |
References
- ^ http://screenbase.screendaily.com/production-companies/136
- ^ a b Mitchell, Wendy (2 March 2011). "You Instead premiere and Sigma Films anniversary party". Screen Daily. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ a b c Martin-Jones, David (2010). Scotland: Global Cinema : Genres, Modes and Identities. Edinburgh, UK: Edinburgh University Press. pp. 224–225.
- ^ a b Fielder, Miles. "Interview: David Mackenzie on Perfect Sense and You Instead". The List (Edinburgh/Glasgow). Retrieved 4 November 2013.
- ^ Soho Shorts blog, 30 June 2009
- ^ Bevir, George (23 May 2013). "Film City draws up plans to develop space in Glasgow". Broadcast.