See-Saw Films is a British-Australian film and television production company founded in 2008 by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman, with offices in London and Sydney. Their productions include The King's Speech, Top Of The Lake, Lion, The Power of the Dog, Slow Horses and the British teen series Heartstopper.

See-Saw Films
IndustryMotion picture
Founded2008, 15 years ago
FounderIain Canning
Emile Sherman
Headquarters
Key people
Iain Canning
Emile Sherman
ProductsFilm production
Television production
Websitewww.see-saw-films.com

History

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Producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman co-founded See-Saw Films in 2008.[1]

In 2011, See-Saw won the Academy Award for Best Picture for their film The King's Speech directed by Tom Hooper. The film stars Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter.[2][3][4]

See-Saw's first television series was Top Of The Lake, directed by Jane Campion and starring Elisabeth Moss and Holly Hunter. The first series released in 2013 and was nominated for eight Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.[5] The second series, Top Of The Lake: China Girl, also directed by Campion, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2017.[6] Elisabeth Moss reprises her role as Detective Robin Griffin in Top Of The Lake: China Girl, which also stars Nicole Kidman and Gwendoline Christie.[7]

See-Saw produced Lion, which premiered in 2016 at the Toronto International Film Festival and stars Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara.[8][9] The film was nominated for six Academy Awards, won two BAFTA Awards, and won 12 AACTA Awards.[10][11]

In 2019, See-Saw produced short-form British comedy series, State of the Union, which premiered on Sundance TV. The first season won three Emmy Awards and stars Rosamund Pike and Chris O'Dowd. In 2021, the series was renewed for a second season and stars Brendan Gleeson and Patricia Clarkson.[12]

In 2021 releases included British TV series The North Water, written and directed by Andrew Haigh, starring Jack O'Connell and Colin Farrell; and Australian TV series Firebite, written by Warwick Thornton and Brendan Fletcher and directed by Thornton, Fletcher and Tony Krawitz. Both series premiered on AMC+ in the United States.[13][14]

Toward the end of 2021, Netflix released The Power of the Dog, which is See-Saw's second collaboration with Jane Campion.[15] In 2022, the film won two BAFTAs including Best Film, and was nominated for 12 Academy Awards, with Jane Campion going on to win Best Director.[16] The film originally premiered at the 78th Venice International Film Festival and Campion was awarded the Silver Lion for Best Director.[citation needed]

TV released in 2022 include Slow Horses seasons one and two[17] and The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+, and Heartstopper season one for Netflix. See-Saw's films that released in 2022 were Operation Mincemeat and The Stranger.[18][19] Florian Zeller's The Son premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival and will release theatrically in early 2023.[20]

People

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Iain Canning and Emile Sherman co-founded the company,[1] and as of June 2022 remain co-managing directors.[21]

Executive producer of television in the UK, Patrick Walters,[21] joined the company in 2014 and was promoted in 2018 to head of TV development in the UK, US and Australia as well as serving as executive producer on selected UK productions.[22]

Simon Gillis is chief operating officer.[21]

Subsidiaries and associated companies

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See-Saw has an in-house sales arm, Cross City Films, which handles international sales of its titles in select territories.[23]

Between 2019 and 2020, See-Saw Films launched joint venture production companies I Am That with Lion director Garth Davis, and Picking Scabs with Samantha Strauss, creator and screenwriter of the Fox Showcase/Sky Atlantic television series The End.[24] I Am That's 50-50 partnership with See-Saw develops feature film and TV projects for Davis to direct and produce alongside See-Saw's managing directors, Canning and Sherman,[25] while Picking Scabs develops projects for Strauss to write and produce with See-Saw[24]

Productions

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Film

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Year Film Director Writer Notes
2009 Linear Anton Corbijn
2010 Oranges and Sunshine Jim Loach Rona Munro
The Kings of Mykonos Peter Andrikidis Nominated – AFI Readers' Choice Award[27]
The King's Speech Tom Hooper David Seidler
2011 Shame Steve McQueen Steve McQueen;

Abi Morgan

2012 Dead Europe Tony Krawitz Louise Fox
2013 Tracks John Curran Marion Nelson
2015 Life Anton Corbijn Luke Davies
Macbeth Justin Kurzel Jacob Koskoff; Michael Lesslie; Todd Louiso
Mr. Holmes Bill Condon Jeffrey Hatcher
Slow West John Maclean John Maclean
2016 Lion Garth Davis Luke Davies
2017 How to Talk to Girls at Parties John Cameron Mitchell Philippa Goslett; John Cameron Mitchell
2018 Mary Magdalene Garth Davis Helen Edmundson; Philippa Goslett
Widows Steve McQueen Gillian Flynn; Steve McQueen
2019 The Day Shall Come Chris Morris Chris Morris; Jesse Armstrong
2020 Ammonite Francis Lee Francis Lee
2021 The Power of the Dog Jane Campion Jane Campion
2022 Operation Mincemeat John Madden Michelle Ashford
The Stranger Thomas M. Wright Thomas M. Wright Premiered in Un Certain Regard at 75th Cannes Film Festival
The Son Florian Zeller Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton
2023 Foe Garth Davis Iain Reid and Garth Davis [33]
The Royal Hotel Kitty Green Kitty Green and Oscar Redding [34]
One Life James Hawes Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake [35]
TBA Wizards! David Michôd David Michôd [36]

Television

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Year Show Writer Director Notes
2013 Top of the Lake Jane Campion, Gerard Lee Jane Campion, Garth Davis
2015 Banished Jimmy McGovern, Shaun Duggan Daniel Percival, Jeffrey Walker Nominated – AACTA Award for Best Telefeature or Miniseries[38]
2016 Codes of Conduct Matthew Michael Carnahan Steve McQueen
Love, Nina Nick Hornby, Nina Stibbe S.J. Clarkson
2017 Top of the Lake: China Girl Jane Campion, Gerard Lee Jane Campion, Ariel Kleiman Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
2018 The New Legends of Monkey Jacquelin Perske Gerald Johnstone Nominated - AACTA Award for Best Children's Television Series
2019 State of the Union Nick Hornby Stephen Frears Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series[39]
2020 The End Samantha Strauss Jessica M. Thompson; Jonathan Brough Nominated - AACTA Award for Best Miniseries or Telefeature
2021 The North Water Andrew Haigh Andrew Haigh
Firebite Warwick Thornton; Brendan Fletcher Warwick Thornton; Brendan Fletcher; Tony Krawitz
2022 Slow Horses Will Smith; Morwenna Banks; Mark Denton; Jonny Stockwood James Hawes
Heartstopper Alice Oseman Euros Lyn Nominated for nine Children's and Family Emmys
The Essex Serpent Anna Symon Clio Barnard
TBA Sweetpea Kirstie Swain TBA In production[40][41]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Emile Sherman - See Saw Films". See Saw Films. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. ^ "'The King's Speech' Reigns at Oscars". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  3. ^ Kilday, Gregg (27 February 2011). "'The King's Speech' Reigns at Oscars". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  4. ^ London, Tim Adler in (13 February 2011). "2011 BAFTA Winners: 'The King's Speech' Sweeps 7 Awards Including Best Film; David Fincher, Colin Firth, Natalie Portman, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter". Deadline. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  5. ^ Egner, Jeremy (18 July 2013). "Emmy Nominees: Elisabeth Moss of 'Mad Men' and 'Top of the Lake'". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Top of the Lake: China Girl". www.festival-cannes.com. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Who Is Nicole Kidman Playing in 'Top of the Lake: China Girl'? Watch the Trailer and Find Out". EW.com. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  8. ^ Erbland, Kate (26 July 2016). "TIFF Reveals First Slate of 2016 Titles, Including 'Magnificent Seven,' 'American Honey,' 'La La Land' and 'Birth of A Nation'". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Rooney Mara". Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  10. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (6 December 2017). "AACTA Awards: 'Lion' & 'Top Of The Lake' Sweep Oz Film & TV Prizes". Deadline. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  11. ^ "BAFTA 2017: Dev Patel wins Best Supporting Actor for Lion". India Today. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  12. ^ Hersko, Tyler (28 January 2021). "'State of the Union' Season 2 Ordered at SundanceTV, Short-Form Emmy Winner Sets New Cast". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  13. ^ "AMC+ Releases Trailer and Key Art for The North Water, From See-Saw Films". 8 July 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  14. ^ "AMC+ Releases Trailer and Key Art for Firebite". 9 December 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  15. ^ Ritman, Alex (1 September 2021). "'Power of the Dog' Producers See-Saw Films: "We Would Have Made Whatever Jane Campion Wanted"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Baftas 2022: The Power of the Dog wins best picture and director". The Guardian. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  17. ^ P, Maddie (8 November 2022). "'Slow Horses' Season 2: Release Date, Cast, Trailer, and Everything We Know So Far". Collider. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  18. ^ Operation Mincemeat, retrieved 2 December 2022
  19. ^ "Netflix Film 'The Stranger' Premieres on Netflix Globally in October". About Netflix. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  20. ^ Michael Balderston (7 September 2022). "The Son: release date, reviews, trailer and everything we know about the Hugh Jackman movie". whattowatch.com. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  21. ^ a b c "Patrick Walters". See Saw Films. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  22. ^ "See-Saw Films promotes Patrick Walters". IF Magazine. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  23. ^ McNary, Dave (30 May 2019). "Netflix Buys 'Power of the Dog' Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elisabeth Moss". Variety. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  24. ^ a b Frater, Patrick (22 September 2020). "Picking Scabs Production Venture Formed by See-Saw Films and Samantha Strauss (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  25. ^ "I Am That". Deadline. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  26. ^ Oranges and Sunshine, retrieved 5 July 2017
  27. ^ The Kings of Mykonos, retrieved 5 July 2017
  28. ^ The King's Speech, retrieved 5 July 2017
  29. ^ Shame, retrieved 5 July 2017
  30. ^ Dead Europe, retrieved 5 July 2017
  31. ^ Tracks, retrieved 5 July 2017
  32. ^ Lion, retrieved 5 July 2017
  33. ^ Donnelly, Matt (3 February 2022). "Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal Sci-Fi Thriller 'Foe' Starts Production in Australia". Variety. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Julia Garner, Jessica Henwick and Hugo Weaving to star in Kitty Green's thriller The Royal Hotel | Media centre". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  35. ^ Bamigboye, Baz (1 September 2022). "Helena Bonham Carter Joins Anthony Hopkins And Johnny Flynn In Holocaust Rescue Drama 'One Life'; 'Black Mirror' Director James Hawes To Make Feature Debut". Deadline. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  36. ^ Kroll, Justin (17 May 2022). "Pete Davidson And Naomi Scott To Star In David Michôd's 'Wizards!' For A24 And Plan B". Deadline. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  37. ^ "Top of the Lake". IMDb. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  38. ^ "Banished". IMDb. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  39. ^ "State of the Union". Television Academy. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  40. ^ Banks, Ethan (17 November 2023). "Sky Atlantic Sweetpea: Southend turns into film set for show". Echo-News. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  41. ^ White, Peter (12 February 2020). "'Top Of The Lake' Producer See-Saw Films Adapting 'American Psycho'-Meets-'Fleabag' Novel 'Sweetpea' For Sky Atlantic With 'Pure' Writer Kirstie Swain". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
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