Italian
Romain Bessi takes the helm at The Creatives to drive innovation in indie film
A new beginning in independent cinema
French media executive Romain Bessi, celebrated for transforming Newen Studios and StudioCanal into global giants, is embarking on an exciting new venture. He steps into the role of CEO for The Creatives, an alliance of distinguished indie production companies.
Visionary leadership for the indie scene
Bessi’s mission with The Creatives is ambitious: he aims to set up a unique, integrated structure and initiate the first financing round for a studio owned by its producers. This collaborative venture symbolizes a significant shift in the indie film landscape, promising new horizons for creative freedom and innovation.
The powerhouse members of The Creatives
The Creatives is an impressive collective, featuring key players from across the globe:
- Haut Et Court (France)
- Lemming Film (Netherlands)
- Maipo Film (Norway)
- Razor Film (Germany)
- Spiro (Israel)
- Unité (France)
- Good Chaos (U.K.)
- Masha (U.S.)
- Komplizen Film (Germany)
These companies, spanning eight countries, have collectively produced around 330 films, like The Lobster, Quo Vadis, Aida?, and Santosh, the U.K.’s submission for the international feature film Oscars. Their TV repertoire includes over 50 shows, notable ones being The New Pope and the Clive Owen-led crime drama Monsieur Spade.
A synergistic approach to filmmaking
Formed in 2021, The Creatives is built on long-term alliances among its members, emphasizing co-productions, strategic joint ventures, information sharing, and network collaboration. The underlying principles of the alliance center around culture, respect, inclusion, and environmental responsibility.
Bessi highlights the organic nature of this collaboration: “They’ve done a lot of co-productions together, they like each other, trust each other. So all the synergies, all the good things you can find in a group, are already in place and you can capitalize on that.”
After nearly 30 years in the industry, Bessi considers this role a natural progression: “The companies that are part of The Creatives Studios certainly stand out in the industry. Together they bring unparalleled creative and business capacities.”
Industry leaders share optimism
Carole Scotta, CEO of Haut Et Court and founder of The Creatives, expressed enthusiasm about Bessi’s joining: “Romain’s commitment to The Creatives is a very strong signal from the market place. We are very happy to build a unique form of studio with his experience and understanding of our collective project.”
Jonas Dornbach, CEO and partner at Komplizen Film in Germany, added: “His vision for combining growth and diversity isn’t just strategy — it’s about reshaping what’s possible in the entertainment industry.”
An innovative future for independent film
Bessi’s leadership marks a transformative phase for The Creatives. This alliance is not just a novel business model but a necessary evolution in an industry increasingly constrained by global market forces. By pooling resources and expertise, The Creatives is positioned to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in the world of indie filmmaking.
For more on The Creatives and other groundbreaking projects in the film industry, share this article on social media and stay tuned for future updates.
