Passion Pictures
Passion Pictures is one of Europe's leading independent production companies, producing award winning films in a variety of contemporary styles including 2D drawn animation, computer animation, stop frame animation, mixed media, and live-action. The Oscar winning company has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and experimental studios producing work for feature films, short films, commercials and music videos.
Passion's multi-award winning Film & TV department premiered three new films at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where 'In The Shadow Of The Moon' won The World Cinema Audience Award. Passion's highly acclaimed documentary, 'Black Sun' was nominated for a BAFTA in January 2007. Passion Pictures is probably best known for its ground breaking animation for the hit band Gorillaz and has produced 8 music videos under the direction of Pete Candeland and Jamie Hewlett, culminating in live performances at the MTV Europe Awards and with Madonna at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in 2006.
Other favourites are Tim Hope's music videos for Coldplay and One Giant Leap, and Darren Walsh's award-winning animation for Sony Bravia 'Play Doh'. Pete Candeland has ventured into games territory directing trailers for Guitar Hero II and Harmonix Rockband, and againstallodds directed their first major campaign for Coke Zero featuring animated tongues and eyeballs.Passion Pictures has a wealth of expertise in mixing live action with animation and houses a highly experienced team of directors, producers, visual effects supervisors, art directors and CG artists.
In January 2008 Passion Pictures launched a new company called Strange Beast which represents an international roster of emerging new talent including Encyclopedia Pictura, Amautalab, Lorenzo Fonda, The Blackheart Gang, Takeo, and James Price.
The company brings together a collection of original and fresh talent from around the world, all of whom are at home working in multi media including live action, design and animation. Strange Beast is run by ex-freelance agency producer Nicola Finn who is committed to developing creative opportunities for these artists across all media including commercials, web based media, music videos, short films and art exhibitions. Encyclopedia Pictura's long awaited video for Bjork will be released in March.Passion Pictures is based in London, with a subsidiary studio in Paris and an office in Melbourne, Australia.
The company is managed by executive producer Andrew Ruhemann and managing director/head of production Hugo Sands. The commercial division is headed up by executive producer Michael Adamo.
