Zig Zag Wins Financing From Future Films

International film finance and production company Future Films is expanding into the financing of TV production with a new and unique arrangement to produce content with innovative London-based TV production company Zig Zag.
A new production fund created by Future Films is backing a range of documentaries and series in partnership with Zig Zag and Future's own post-production facility Pepper Post, which is also providing extended credit facilities.
Combining the finance capability of Future Films and the provision of its post-production facilities, Zig Zag is making a number of documentaries, including The Snakeman (Five) and Vinnie Jones' Toughest Cops - USA (ITV) for sale across the international and domestic markets. Through the deficit finance and edit facilities provided under the new partnership Zig Zag are able to put certain shows into production earlier and without the reliance on advances from distributors and other sales agents.
Future Films' Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Margolis said: "This new venture demonstrates the linked up nature of Future Films and our ability to constantly look at news and innovative ways to collaborate with talent and entrepreneurial partners.
"Film and TV content are moving ever closer together in the market place and we are already finding ways to harness new delivery methods to make healthy returns."
Danny Fenton, Managing Director of Zig Zag, said: "This partnership with Future Films is an example of how we are having to think "outside the box" in terms of our commercial models, and allows us to continue to produce top quality programmes in the current financial climate, which is of course our number one priority."
Jane Coombes, Joint Managing Director of Pepper Post, said: "Future Films' new TV financing model allows the award-winning team at Pepper the opportunity to develop new relationships with high-end production companies such as Zig Zag. It is also a facility we can offer our existing clients who are constantly looking for innovative ways to fund their TV projects."
Future Films has raised over £2 billion in film finance over the last ten years financing over 120 films across the UK, Europe and most recently in the US. Among the films it has been involved with, its most recent projects include Planet 51, a major CG animated motion picture set for international release on November 26, starring the voices of Jessica Biel, Dwayne Johnson, John Cleese, Gary Oldman and Seann William Scott, Jordan Scott's (daughter of Ridley) debut feature Cracks, which recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and 50 Dead Men Walking starring Ben Kingsley and Jim Sturgess, which was released in the UK earlier this year and is set to reach US cinemas this autumn.
Zig Zag Productions is a young innovative television production company, well respected for its eclectic approach to programme making.
The company focuses on making high quality, good value television programmes for the global market that are distinct in attitude and tone.
Started by Danny Fenton and Kevin Utton in 1999, Zig Zag has made over 400 hours of programming to date. Ranging from top end factual documentaries to ground-breaking entertainment series, Zig Zag caters for a varied range of worldwide broadcasters. Zig Zag Productions is based in bespoke offices in Clerkenwell, London with a US office based in Los Angeles.
Zig Zag was recently voted the fifth most respected UK production company by its peers in the Televisual Top 100, scooped the Rose D'Or in 2009 for original format Relentless and has been nominated for a RTS award for Best Production Company.
(KMcA/BMcC)