History [ edit ]

Worldview Entertainment was founded in 2007 by Chairman and CEO, Christopher Woodrow,[1] and Maria Cestone. Molly Conners 🌝 joined the company in 2009 as COO. Worldview Entertainment signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2010 and has since 🌝 become the agency's top film finance and production client. Sarah E. Johnson, daughter of Franklin Resources Chairman, Charles B. Johnson, 🌝 became a partner and investor in the company in 2011. Worldview established a four-yearR$30 million credit facility with Comerica in 🌝 2013 to provide debt financing for the company's films, which coincided with the infusion ofR$40 million in new equity from 🌝 existing investors. TheR$70 million doubled the company's capital base.

The company's first film was William Friedkin's black comedy, Killer Joe, which 🌝 it financed along with Voltage Pictures in 2010. The film premiered at the 2011 Venice Film Festival before making its 🌝 North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was sold domestically to LD Entertainment in one of 🌝 the biggest sales at the festival. The film was distributed theatrically in the summer of 2012, with star Matthew McConaughey 🌝 receiving a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award as Best Male Lead.

Worldview's 2012 slate included three films that premiered at 🌝 the 2013 Cannes Film Festival including the Guillaume Canet crime thriller, Blood Ties, which was the biggest domestic sale at 🌝 the festival, after being purchased by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions; and James Gray's period drama, The Immigrant which was sold 🌝 domestically to The Weinstein Company. The Company went on to premiere two films at the 2013 Venice Film Festival, including 🌝 David Gordon Green's drama Joe, which was sold domestically to Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions. Worldview also premiered six films at 🌝 the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival including the West Memphis Three crime thriller, Devil's Knot,[2][3][4] which was sold domestically to 🌝 Image Entertainment; and Eli Roth's horror thriller, The Green Inferno, which was sold domestically to Open Road Films.[3][5]

The company's film 🌝 slate after the firing of Christopher Woodrow included Alejandro González Iñárritu's comedy, Birdman, with Fox Searchlight Pictures and Regency Enterprises; 🌝 Zach Braff's drama Wish I Was Here with Focus Features; and Daniel Espinosa's crime thriller Child 44, with Lionsgate releasing 🌝 through their Summit Entertainment banner.