Film industry veterans launch Ashland Hill Media Finance (EXCLUSIVE)
A trio of veteran film financiers and producers launch a new venture.
Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross are partnering on Ashland Hill Media Finance, a film and television finance company, backed by an alternative investment fund with assets under management of $1.85 billion. From its offices in Santa Monica and London, Ashland Hill expects to complete more than 25 transactions over the next 12 months, with plans to expand operations beyond the US and UK later this year. The company will also acquire rights and bundle projects for its own production pipeline.
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“We are the essential new source of reliable, flexible and fast funding for the film and television markets,” said Simpson. “We help the world’s producers, filmmakers and storytellers turn their visions into reality.”
The initial list of Ashland Hill-funded films includes: Philip Noyce’s action thriller ‘Fast Charlie’ starring Pierce Brosnan, Morena Baccarin and James Caan, which just wrapped principal photography in Louisiana and is represented at Cannes by Foresight Unlimited . Additionally, the company has also backed technology thriller “57 Seconds,” directed by Rusty Cundieff, starring Josh Hutcherson and Morgan Freeman, which will be represented by Highland Film Group. He is also financing Marcus Adams’ shark thriller “Deep Fear”, starring Mãdãlina Ghenea and Ed Westwick. The film recently wrapped in Malta with Brilliant Pictures handling sales.
Williams promised that “we are experienced, efficient and we close sensible deals on time”.
Bross adds, “We are constructive and creative problem solvers who plan to build long-term relationships through trust, integrity and mutual respect. We intend to grow rapidly”
When first hired, the band brought in award-winning producer Joe Jenckes as senior vice president of production. Among his many credits, Jenckes is best known for his work on the Oscar-nominated financial thriller “Margin Call.” Other credits include the Daniel Radcliffe drama “Kill Your Darlings” and the 2021 Amazon Studios true-crime series “Between Black and Blue.”
Over the past nine years, Williams has been Chief Investment Officer at a UK-based investment management firm and has served as executive producer on over 45 films. During his tenure, he participated in the closing of investments of more than $750 million.
Bross has three decades of experience in private debt, film financing and film production. In 2017, he founded Argonaut Entertainment Partners in the United States
Simpson is a film financier and producer who, over the past three years, has managed investments in more than 25 films with combined budgets exceeding $350 million. His recent credits include “Honest Thief” with Liam Neeson and “SAS: Red Notice” with Sam Heughan and Ruby Rose. Previous roles include a stint as Vice President of Strategic Marketing at MGM.
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