Mumbai : Anil Ambani’s Reliance Entertainment, DreamWorks Studios, Participant Media and Entertainment One (eOne) have come together to create Amblin Partners, a new film, television and digital content-creation outfit.
The new company will be developing and producing films using the Amblin, DreamWorks Pictures and Participant banners and includes Amblin Television. Participant Media will remain a separate company that continues to independently develop, produce and finance projects.
Amblin Partners will be led by CEO Michael Wright and Jeff Small, as president and COO. Amblin Television will become a division of Amblin Partners and continues to be run by co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. They join producer Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario, president of production, on the film side, to complete Amblin Partners’ senior management team. David Linde, the CEO of Participant Media, and Participant’s narrative feature team, led by Jonathan King, as executive VP, will work closely with Amblin Partners to develop and produce specific content for the new venture, in addition to exploring opportunities for co-productions and other content.
eOne will handle the distribution of Amblin Partners films on a multi-territory output basis in Australia/New Zealand and Spain as well as the U.K. and Benelux, where it previously had an output arrangement with DreamWorks Studios.
Steven Spielberg, principal partner at DreamWorks Studios, commented, “We are thrilled to partner with Jeff Skoll, Participant Media, and to continue our prolific relationship. We are of like minds, as our many collaborations have illustrated, with a mutual commitment to quality, premium entertainment and global vision.”
Jeff Skoll, the chairman of Participant Media, said, “I have had the good fortune of working with Steven for many years. We share a passion for stories that can truly affect change. And this new venture will further Participant’s growth and global impact.”
Spielberg continued, “We are honored to continue our long-term association with our dear friend, Anil Ambani and his team at Reliance. We have had the opportunity to develop and produce wonderful films thanks to their ongoing support.”
Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Group, added, “We are delighted to continue our now seven-years-strong relationship with our valued partner, Steven Spielberg, and to extend this alliance to the formation of Amblin Partners with Jeff Skoll. We look forward to the combination of Steven’s passion and integrity with Jeff’s unique socially conscious vision to create uplifting and quality content to entertain global audiences.”
Spielberg continued, “We are also grateful to Darren Throop and his team at Entertainment One for their contribution to Amblin Partners. We look forward to expanding our relationship.”
Darren Throop, the president and CEO of eOne, remarked, “We are delighted to join Steven Spielberg, Jeff Skoll and Reliance in launching this unique new venture. We continually strive to partner with producers of the highest quality content, and Amblin Partners certainly represents the gold standard.”
