Cloud Eight Films

Cloud Eight Films is a British film production company based in London and founded by producer Christian Colson on 19 December 2008. Colson had previously served as managing director of Celador, the production company associated with a number of television and film properties. The company was initially established as Colson Films, changed its name to Cloud Nine Films in March 2009, and adopted the name Cloud Eight Films later that year. The company developed its business through producer-led relationships and first-look arrangements rather than through a large publicly visible studio structure. In March 2009, it entered into a first-look deal with Pathé. This type of arrangement positioned Cloud Eight to develop and present film projects through an established distribution and financing partner while retaining an independent production identity. Cloud Eight Films is associated with a number of feature-film projects involving prominent filmmakers and producers. Its credited or reported film work includes 127 Hours, Selma, and Steve Jobs. These projects span survival drama, historical drama, and biographical drama, and reflect the company’s focus on filmmaker-driven productions with substantial international distribution potential. Steve Jobs was selected as the centerpiece of the 2015 New York Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, giving the company one of its most visible festival-facing milestones. The company has also pursued projects beyond completed feature films. In 2013, English filmmaker Danny Boyle was reported to be developing a film based on the documentary Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers, with Cloud Eight Films attached to produce. Around the same period, FX ordered the ten-part miniseries Telemark through Boyle’s Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films. In October 2014, Cloud Eight and Boyle received a first-look arrangement from FX following their collaboration on Telemark, with future films to be produced through the two companies. Cloud Eight’s history also includes changes in its producing personnel and development slate. Producer Ivana MacKinnon left the company in February 2011 to produce Cheerleaders 3D, directed by Tom Harper. In May of that year, author Monica Ali was reported to have sold the film rights to Untold Story to the company. These developments illustrate the company’s role as a development and packaging business as well as a producer of released films. The available reference material does not identify a public parent corporation, stock-market listing, current executive roster beyond its founder, independent financial results, or a consumer-facing website. The company is described as currently owning sister production company Selma Films. Its public identity is therefore best understood as an independent British production label centered on feature films, television development, and collaborations with established filmmakers and distributors.

Cloud Eight Films was established in London on 19 December 2008 by producer Christian Colson. Before founding the company, Colson had been managing director of Celador. The new business was originally called Colson Films, reflecting its founder’s name and producer-led structure. The company went through two name changes during its first year. On 28 March 2009 it became Cloud Nine Films and entered into a first-look deal with Pathé. On 19 November 2009, it adopted the name Cloud Eight Films. The Pathé relationship gave the independent company a route to develop and present projects through a major film partner, while the company continued to operate as a specialist production label. Cloud Eight’s subsequent activity combined feature-film production, rights development, and television projects. The company is associated with films including 127 Hours, Selma, and Steve Jobs. These titles cover different genres but share a focus on real people, historical events, or high-concept human stories. The projects also placed Cloud Eight within an international network of directors, writers, financiers, distributors, and festival organizations. Personnel changes formed part of the company’s early development. In February 2011, producer Ivana MacKinnon left Cloud Eight Films to produce Cheerleaders 3D, a project directed by Tom Harper. Later that year, author Monica Ali was reported to have sold the film rights to Untold Story to Cloud Eight. The rights transaction demonstrated the company’s interest in literary adaptation and project development in addition to producing films already in production. In October 2013, English filmmaker Danny Boyle was announced as attached to a film based on the documentary Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers, with Cloud Eight Films set to produce. On 11 October 2013, FX ordered a ten-part miniseries titled Telemark through Boyle’s Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films. The television order broadened the company’s documented activities beyond theatrical features and created a continuing relationship with Boyle. That relationship was formalized in October 2014 when FX granted Cloud Eight Films and Boyle a first-look deal. Under the arrangement, films would continue to be produced through Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films, following their collaboration on Telemark. The deal reflected Cloud Eight’s position as a production partner capable of working with an established filmmaker and a major television network on multiple projects. In July 2015, Steve Jobs was announced as the centerpiece of the New York Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. The selection was a significant festival milestone for a Cloud Eight-associated production and increased the company’s visibility in the international film community. The available reference material describes Cloud Eight Films as currently owning a sister production company named Selma Films. It does not provide a public corporate ownership chain, financial disclosures, stock-market information, or a current detailed management roster. On the documented record, Cloud Eight Films is an active London-based independent production company whose work is organized around feature films, television development, rights acquisition, and partnerships with filmmakers and distribution or broadcast companies.

1. 2015Steve Jobs named festival centerpiece

   Steve Jobs was selected as the centerpiece of the New York Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

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2. 2014FX first-look deal

   FX granted Cloud Eight Films and Danny Boyle a first-look arrangement following their work on Telemark.

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3. 2013Telemark ordered by FX

   FX ordered a ten-part miniseries developed through Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films.

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4. 2011Untold Story rights acquired

   Cloud Eight Films was reported to have acquired the film rights to Monica Ali’s Untold Story.

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5. 2009First-look relationship with Pathé

   The company changed its name to Cloud Nine Films in March and established a first-look deal with Pathé.

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6. 2009Adopts Cloud Eight Films name

   The company changed its name from Cloud Nine Films to Cloud Eight Films on 19 November.

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7. 2008Company founded as Colson Films

   Christian Colson founded the London production company on 19 December 2008 under the name Colson Films.

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An independent British film production company focused on filmmaker-driven feature films, television projects, adaptations, and international co-production or first-look relationships.

• 127 HoursFeature film

  A feature film associated with Cloud Eight Films and centered on a survival story. It is one of the company’s documented film projects and exemplifies its involvement in filmmaker-led dramatic productions.

• SelmaHistorical drama feature film

  A historical drama associated with Cloud Eight Films. The film forms part of the company’s best-known feature-film portfolio and reflects its involvement in projects based on significant historical figures and events.

• Steve JobsBiographical drama feature film2015

  A biographical drama associated with Cloud Eight Films and notable for its selection as the centerpiece of the 2015 New York Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

• TelemarkTelevision miniseries2013

  A planned ten-part miniseries ordered by FX and developed through Danny Boyle’s Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films. The project extended the company’s documented work into television production.

• Untold StoryFilm adaptation project2011

  A film rights and development project based on Monica Ali’s work. Cloud Eight Films was reported to have acquired the film rights in 2011.

• Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink PanthersDocumentary adaptation project2013

  A planned feature-film project based on the documentary Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers. Danny Boyle was announced as filmmaker, with Cloud Eight Films attached to produce.

• 2014FX first-look arrangement with Cloud Eight and Danny BoyleStrategy

  The arrangement followed the companies’ collaboration on Telemark.

  What changed. FX granted Cloud Eight Films and Danny Boyle a first-look deal for films produced through Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films.

  Aftermath. The deal created a continuing framework for presenting future film projects to FX.

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• 2013Development of Pink Panthers filmProduct launch

  Cloud Eight Films pursued a feature project based on the documentary Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers.

  What changed. Danny Boyle was announced as filmmaker, with Cloud Eight Films attached to produce.

  Aftermath. The announcement connected the company with a high-profile director and an adaptation of a documentary subject.

  Source
• 2013Telemark ordered by FXProduct launch

  Cloud Eight Films and Decibel Films developed a television project associated with Danny Boyle.

  What changed. FX ordered a ten-part miniseries titled Telemark.

  Aftermath. The order expanded Cloud Eight’s documented production activity into television and strengthened its relationship with Boyle.

  Source
• 2009Establishment of Pathé first-look dealStrategy

  After its founding and initial name change, Cloud Eight Films sought a distribution and development relationship with Pathé.

  What changed. The company entered into a first-look arrangement with Pathé in March 2009.

  Aftermath. The agreement provided a strategic relationship with an established film company during Cloud Eight’s early development.

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• 2015Steve Jobs selected as New York Film Festival centerpiece

  Steve Jobs was announced as the centerpiece of the New York Film Festival at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

  Product launch
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• 2014FX grants Cloud Eight Films and Danny Boyle a first-look deal

  Following their work on Telemark, FX granted Cloud Eight Films and Danny Boyle a first-look arrangement for future film projects.

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• 2013Danny Boyle attached to Pink Panthers film project

  Danny Boyle was announced as the filmmaker for a project based on Smash and Grab: The Story of the Pink Panthers, with Cloud Eight Films attached to produce.

  Product launch
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• 2013FX orders Telemark miniseries

  FX ordered a ten-part miniseries titled Telemark, developed through Danny Boyle’s Decibel Films and Cloud Eight Films.

  Product launch
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• 2011Ivana MacKinnon leaves Cloud Eight Films

  Producer Ivana MacKinnon left the company to produce Cheerleaders 3D, directed by Tom Harper.

  Leadership change
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• 2011Cloud Eight Films acquires rights to Untold Story

  Author Monica Ali was reported to have sold the film rights to Untold Story to Cloud Eight Films.

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• 2009Company renamed Cloud Nine Films and enters Pathé first-look arrangement

  The company changed its name from Colson Films to Cloud Nine Films in March 2009 and established a first-look deal with Pathé during the same month.

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• 2009Cloud Nine Films becomes Cloud Eight Films

  The production company adopted the Cloud Eight Films name on 19 November 2009.

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• 2008Cloud Eight Films founded in London

  Christian Colson founded the company in London on 19 December 2008, initially under the name Colson Films.

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1. Cloud Eight Films