BBC Studios has announced today it has agreed a partnership deal with Brock Media, the new UK-based production company founded by award-winning producer Sarah Brocklehurst.
With over a decade of experience across film, television and theatre, Brocklehurst is the BAFTA-nominated and BIFA-winning producer of Animals and Black Pond.
The partnership deal will encompass development, production and distribution, and includes an option for BBC Studios to take an equity stake. It is part of BBC Studios’ drive to support the very best British talent within the wider creative industries, which recently saw an increase in investment in two other leading indie labels, Clerkenwell Films and House Productions.
Brock Media will develop and produce television and films for global audiences, working with leading talent from the UK, as well as world-renowned international filmmakers and artists.
The company is led by a dynamic and talented team of women. Katie Brown, formerly at ITV and Big Talk, who has been working with Sarah for over a year as a Development Executive, has been promoted to Head of Development at Brock Media. They are joined by new hires Associate Producer Rohina Cameron-Perera from Empress Films, and Development Executive Mélys Codo from Film4.
Sarah Brocklehurst said: “I couldn’t be happier partnering with BBC Studios to launch Brock Media, an ambitious new production company that brings together exceptional talent across all forms of media to produce television and films for a global audience. We are passionate about storytelling and championing creative excellence. Our story starts here.”
Mark Linsey said: “Sarah is a bold and fearless creative with a strong track record of creating distinctive stories with honesty, humour and heart. She is part of an up-and-coming generation of new talent which we are delighted to support, and we’re hugely excited about what this partnership could achieve.”
Animals, directed by Sophie Hyde, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and received 2 BIFA nominations: Holliday Grainger for Best Actress, and Emma Jane Unsworth for Début Screenwriter, with Emma Jane Unsworth winning the award.
A previous BAFTA Breakthrough Brit and Screen Star of Tomorrow, Sarah was nominated for a BAFTA for Outstanding Début by a British Producer for Black Pond in 2012, which was directed by Will Sharpe and Tom Kingsley. The film won the London Comedy Film Festival Discovery Award and the Evening Standard award for Best Newcomers.
As well as numerous partnerships of this kind with rising talent across the creative industries, BBC Studios has a growing portfolio of equity investments in 12 UK independent production company labels across scripted and unscripted genres, including full ownership of Clerkenwell Films, House Productions and Lookout Point and a majority stake in Sid Gentle Films and Baby Cow Productions.
Sarah Brocklehurst was advised on the deal by Tom Manwaring of Helion Partners and Nick Mahara of Sheridans.