ABOUT MODERN FILMS:
MODERN FILMS: EXPANDING THE CINEMA EXPERIENCE
Modern Films is a London-based film production, distribution and digital exhibition company, working with rising and established talent from around the world and bringing innovative global stories to local audiences. We focus on creating connections between content, context and curation, with a particular emphasis on dialogues around pressing social issues of our time through the power of cinema, creative freedom and cultural expression.
Established in 2017, Modern Films was launched as an alternative to the traditional model of the film value chain to work across borders, media and windows. Our first major projects were the distribution of Julian Rosefeldt’s Manifesto starring Cate Blanchett in 13 different roles, as well as Executive Production on the BAFTA-winning I Am Not a Witch by Rungano Nyoni that had its world premiere in the Directors Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival and went on to be the UK’s entry for the 91st Academy Awards.
We represent a library of over 100 films, including such notable titles as the critically acclaimed, Oscar® and BAFTA winner Drive My Car based on a Haruki Murakami short story and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi plus two further of his features Berlinale Silver Bear winner Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and Venice Biennale Silver Lion winner Evil Does Not Exist, Agnieszka Holland’s Venice Special Jury Prize winner Green Border, Babak Jalali’s Sundance favourite Fremont featuring Jeremy Allen White, Carol Morley’s Typist Artist Pirate King co-starring Kelly Macdonald and Monica Dolan, Kristoffer Borgli’s outrageous Sick of Myself, Cannes winner Happy as Lazzaro by Alice Rohrwatcher and Caméra d’Or winner Murina - both Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese.
In addition, they represent such documentaries as Steve McQueen’s Occupied City released in partnership with A24 and Film4, Oscar® nominee Four Daughters by Kaouther Ben Hania, Lisa Rovner’s Sisters with Transistors narrated by Laurie Anderson and two films by Paul Sng: photographer story Tish narrated by Maxine Peake and multiple BIFA-winning Poly Styrene: I Am a Cliché co-directed with Celeste Bell and narrated by Ruth Negga.
Winner: Highly Commended Distributor of the Year, Screen International Awards.
Modern Films support the BFI Diversity Standards as part of our HR practices and are working towards being a Certified B-Corporation, wherein our ESG efforts are recognised for being part of a global community of leaders who balance purpose and profit. Modern is committed to equal opportunities in the workplace and with our partners, to a harassment-free and discrimination-free environment and to a remit of being part of a wide range of perspectives, input and activism across the team and output.
VIRTUAL CINEMA
Modern Films’ Virtual Cinema model aims to expand the theatrical experience by supporting local/independent cinemas and cultural/media organisations through partnered online virtual screenings, live events, audience development and joined-up marketing initiatives. Working in a similar way to physical theatrical partnerships, we share the virtual box office ticket sales between distribution and exhibition.
EVENT CINEMA
Modern Event Cinema is a sub-brand of Modern Films, dedicated to making the cinema-going experience inviting, exciting and entertaining. We create one-off events related to a film or filmed content that are shown Live from a venue or online in the form of Q+As, panels and/or discussion. Our programmes vary from music to literature, visual arts to history, fashion to family, and beyond. Our event partners range from the Royal Opera House and The Barbican to Tate Modern and Serpentine Galleries, from Penguin Books to Frieze Art Fair to the British Library, from The Guardian to the Southbank Centre, from Rough Trade to the British Fashion Council and the V&A Museum, from UN Women to UK Parliament, from SKY to BBC, Channel 4 and A24.
IMPACT PROJECTS & CULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS
Modern FIlms work with impact partners across our release campaigns. Partners have included Athene Club, Bloody Good Period, Changing Faces, Children in Need, Dark Matter Agency, Diverse Cinema, Diverse Dance Mix, Earth Day, Global Citizen, Glorious Sport, Goals House for Sustainable Development, Habibi Collective, Hilma af Klint Foundation, Kering Foundation, Love Music Hate Racism, MediCinema, MilkTea Films, New Black Film Collective, National Poetry Library, Nikon Projects, Numbi Arts, NSPCC, Oxfam, Reclaim the Frame, Refugee Week, Roundhouse Young Creatives, Royal Academy of Dance, Sundance Institute, Swarovski Foundation, Together Films, Transgressive Records, UNHRC, UN Women, Vision Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Women in Film & Television, World Wildlife Fund and more.
We have worked across a number of national cultural bodies who support film, including the British Film Institute, Creative England, Creative Europe MEDIA, CNC, Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Dutch Film Fund, Film Audience Network, Film London, Finnish Film Foundation, German Films, Hubert Bals Fund, Italian Film Fund, Japan Foundation, Northern Irish Screen, Norwegian Film Institute, Screen Ireland, Screen Scotland, Swedish Film Institute and Unifrance.
THE MODERN FILMS TEAM
EVE GABEREAU
FOUNDER + Chief executive officer
Eve Gabereau is an award-winning film distributor and producer and the founder of Modern Films. Previously, she co-founded and ran the leading indie distribution company Soda Pictures for 15 years - representing over 350 acclaimed films, including Oscar® nominee Toni Erdmann, Adam Driver-starrer Paterson and multiple works by Kelly Reichardt. She was a strategic leader in their M&A with media group Thunderbird Entertainment, backers of Blade Runner 2049.
She has a background in journalism, cultural affairs and the tech sector, having by-lines in The Guardian, The Independent, Time Out and Sight & Sound, worked for various government agencies in Canada, US, Japan, China, France & Italy and headed up the channel division of a Silicon Valley start-up supported in part by Bill Gates.
She has a BA in Political Science from McGill University, an MA in Communications and East Asian Studies, is an Inside Pictures alumnus, a member of the British Screen Forum, Film Distributors Association and Europa Distribution and on the Boards of ACE Producers, Film London and the British Independent Film Awards. She is featured in The British Film Industry in 25 Careers: The Mavericks, Visionaries & Outsiders Who Shaped British Cinema (Bloomsbury Press).
GEMMA SPECTOR
DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION (Currently on-leave)
Gemma Spector has over 20 years experience in film distribution. She started her career in development at Renaissance Films, before transitioning into distribution by taking on the roles of Marketing Manager at UGC Films and Head of Marketing at Revolver Entertainment, working on such movies as François Ozon’s Swimming Pool, Bafta-nominated Goodbye Lenin!, Guillaume Canet’s Tell No One, Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York and Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man.
She went on to run the distribution arm of financier-producer CinemaNX, working across key titles TT3D: Closer To The Edge, Oscar® nominated animation Chico & Rita and Richard Linklater’s Me And Orson Welles. She was part of their merger with Pinewood Pictures.
She obtained her BA from the University of Oxford and is a graduate of both Inside Pictures and the MEDIA Business School’s Marketing and International Distribution Programme. She is on the Advisory Board of Raising Films.
ANNA GERMANIDI
DIRECTOR OF EXHIBITION + PROGRAMMING
Anna Germanidi is a film professional with international experience in production, distribution, programming and events.
She grew up in Greece where she received a BSc in Economics and started her career in film production. She obtained an MA in Film & Television from Syracuse University and headed the Slamdance Film Festival, as the festival’s director and programmer.
She continued working in festival/event planning and programming for several years, having been part of organisations such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam, BFI London Film Festival and ACE Producers. As the director of exhibition & programming at Modern Films, she leads the UK&IE theatrical and virtual release strategies of their titles.
ROSSELLA DI PIETRO
exhibition + programming
After receiving a BA in English and German Literature in Naples and an MA in Modern and Contemporary Literatures and Cultures at the University of York, Rossella moved to London to work in publishing.
She's interested in female-led narratives investigating themes of absence and human connection. Over the years, she has contributed her photography and writing to a few outlets, such as PolaroidTapes, Hook Magazine, and The White Room Magazine, where she has served as a film essayist.
Her first short film Plucking Tangerines, made with the support of MET Film School, premiered at the 2022 London Independent Film Festival, was February finalist at the 2022 Boden International Film Festival and played in the official selection of the 2022 North East International Film Festival, and the 2023 Montreal International Film Festival.
She originally joined Modern Films to work across distribution and marketing outreach, moving into exhibition in April 2023.
EVA ZVEDENIUK
DESIGN + COMMUNICATION
Having graduated with a BA in Media and Film Theory at RMIT University, Melbourne, Eva has also undertaken studies in Swedish language, Swedish Film and Linguistic Philosophy at Lund University, Sweden. A large portion of her studies extended into areas of literature, gender theory and creative writing.
Since 2020, Eva has been working in marketing, design and communication at Modern Films— assisting campaign releases for multiple award-winning films.
With a strong passion for independent cinema, Eva is drawn to poetic and unique storytelling — stories fuelled by emotion, passion and vigour; stories that challenge us, resonate with us, and present new ways of seeing and existing in the world.
MAY LEUNG
Production + Virtual Production consultant
May Leung has decades of feature and series experience. She has provided creative and technical guidance on several high-profile projects such as Captain America: The First Avenger (Marvel/Paramount) for Joe Johnston, Bryan Singer’s Bohemian Rhapsody (20th Century), Horizon Line (Epix) with Mikael Marcimain, The Dark Knight Rises and Inception (WB) for Christopher Nolan.
She has leaned into her extensive experience as a lead within the ranks of award-winning VFX houses to bring filmmakers' visions to life and generate budgets for film and HETV by working with various production departments and producers.
May has recently transitioned to producing, bringing her visual effects knowledge into discussions with regards to methodology, innovative filming and cost efficiencies as well as creative visuals.
SATOKO SEKIGUCHI
MARKETING + SPECIAL PROJECTS
Satoko Sekiguchi is an award-winning professional with over eight years of experience in sales, marketing, and PR in the Japan/UK film industries.
Throughout her time at IMAGICA, a leading post-production house in Japan, she led numerous film/TV/anime-related projects, including the restoration of classic masterpieces and the organisation of a film festival in Asia.
After completing a Master’s in International Film Business at the London Film School with Distinction in 2023, she joined Modern Films as a Marketing & Distribution Assistant. Her aspiration is to serve as a bridge, passing on memories of various people and eras to the next generation through films.
Satoko was selected as a participant at Rotterdam Lab 2024.
Agency: MARGARET
Public Relations + PARTNERSHIPS
Margaret are an established cultural communications and content agency, with a proven track record in creating and delivering outstanding results through high profile PR and communications campaigns across arts, cultural and lifestyle projects, both in the UK and internationally.
Their work includes an amazing roster of arts institutions, creative brands and individuals, all presenting projects and ideas that have a genuine cultural value - including the Photographers’ Gallery London, Polaroid, Birch, Somerset House, Sony World Photography Awards, World Photography Organisation, EVA International (Ireland’s art biennale), Musicity, Penguin Books and Modern Films.
Margaret are a member of 1 percent for the Planet and donate 1% of all their sales to environmental charities.
Betty Aldous
SPECIAL PROJECTS CONSULTANT
Betty Aldous has over 20 years experience in the film industry. She has been involved in Modern Films since its early days and works as a consultant on special projects, including Event Cinema, marketing and development.
She has produced industry events internationally and in the UK with partners and stakeholders including BAFTA, Film4, BBC Film, British Film Commission and more.
Her recent production projects include George Floyd-inspired short I Still Breathe (2020) by Alfred George Bailey - which sold to SKY and Amazon Prime - and the deep-fake true story My Blond GF (2023) by Rosie Morris - in association with Guardian Docs.
She is an active part of the annual short film festival and competition 16 Days 16 Films, that works to empower female-identifying filmmakers and address all forms of violence against women on a global scale.
DEBORA ZAPPALA
IMPACT OUTREACH + MARKETING
Debora holds a BA in Film Studies and Russian from Queen Mary University of London, and an MA in Film Studies from King’s College London. She has experience with various film festivals, including the UK Asian Film Festival, UK Jewish Film Festival, and London Rolling Film Festival, specializing in film marketing, production, and programming.
Passionate about world and independent cinema, Debora believes in its power to unite people and effect social change. Since joining Modern Films as a Distribution & Marketing Assistant, she has dedicated herself to promoting socially-driven films with unique perspectives and ensuring their widespread accessibility. Her commitment extends to shedding light on unheard voices.
Born and raised in Italy, Debora is involved with CinemaItaliaUK, a London-based charity promoting Italian culture through cinema. She aims to bring independent Italian films that challenge stereotypes to international audiences, furthering cultural exchange and understanding. In 2023, she worked at RAI, the Italian National Broadcaster.
LAB: DIGITAL CINEMA UNITED
theatrical + home entertainment services
Digital Cinema United (DCU) is our partner lab to deliver digital content across the film value chain, from cinemas to streamers and VOD platforms to television channels and home entertainment to all other ancillary rights.
They specialise in Distribution Services and Deliverables, Mastering and Localisation for the UK/Eire Market, Primary and Localised Asset Creation for Global Delivery and Global Key Generation.
They also run DCU Connect, a globally secure platform for quick and direct digital DCP deliveries for exhibitors, including indies, circuits and alternatives spaces.
They have offices in London, Los Angeles, Prague and Bartlett South Africa.
AGENCY: MUSTARD STUDIO
CINEMA MARKETING + EXHIBITION CONSULTANCY
Mustard Studio was created from a belief that cinemas are the cornerstones of our communities, engaging culturally and operating commercially. It was founded and is run by Mandy Kean (ex-Soho House International Director of Cinema) and Kate Gerova (ex-Curzon Director of Brand & Marketing).
Their tailor-made consultancy services cover the brand journey from the customer’s point of view - the 360 degree perspective. They work with clients to develop strong business foundations that encompass pillars of excellence around brand, loyalty and leadership. They work with companies who constantly elevate their offer and want project support and development to help them get there.
With their roots firmly in the film and cinema industry, they know how it works and what a good result looks like, whether it’s around the bottom line, around an organisation’s culture or a future initiative around innovation and audiences.