Megan Ellison Rebuilding Movie Ambitions Amid Paramount Warner Deal
The Hollywood Reporter • • general
Key Points:
- Megan Ellison is preparing for a significant comeback in the independent film industry by rehiring key Annapurna executives Chelsea Barnard and Matthew Budman as co-heads of film, signaling a reboot of the company focused on production and filmmaker relationships.
- Annapurna, known for midbudget auteur-driven films, struggled with overextension after entering distribution but has since resolved debt and shifted focus away from distribution, with recent successes like the Sundance hit The Invite and the Oscar-nominated Nimona boosting its profile.
- The independent film space has shrunk considerably, with many specialty labels closing, but Annapurna’s revival is seen as timely amid renewed interest in smartly budgeted, marketable films, and industry speculation grows about whether it will remain independent
