Producers Discuss Cross-Border Filmmaking at London Film Festival Panel
At a BFI London Film Festival industry panel, producers discussed the realities of international co-production. Rodrigo Teixeira, whose credits include Paper Tiger and I'm Still Here, said James Gray's films represent a safe investment. Panelists also compared paperwork and working cultures across countries, including a Norwegian-Greek co-production.
At a BFI London Film Festival industry session on Monday, Wendy Mitchell moderated a discussion titled A Shared Vision: Perspectives on Co-production, presented with The Hollywood Reporter. Participants included Dyveke Bjørkly Graver of Eye Eye Pictures, Alan Maher of Cowtown Pictures, Adrià Monés of Fasten, and Rodrigo Teixeira of RT Features.
The producers compared co-production practices. UK and Irish teams often involve more legal advisers and meetings than other European markets, they noted. Graver described a Norwegian-Greek project where a trusted Greek colleague explained that raised voices were ordinary conversation. Teixeira contrasted Hollywood's large meetings with his recurring, financially reliable collaborations with James Gray.
This panel could shape how industry professionals approach international partnerships, especially producers navigating legal and cultural differences. If such discussions lead to smoother co-productions, audiences may see more varied stories reaching screens, while filmmakers from smaller markets could gain wider financing and distribution opportunities. The emphasis on trust and communication may also influence workplace norms on multinational sets, though concrete effects would depend on whether studios and funds adopt these lessons.