French film exec Stephane Celerier, PGS Entertainment partner for new prodco

Veteran French film exec Stephane Celerier is teaming up with the principals at PGS Entertainment to launch a production company called Gemma Pictures.

Stephane Celerier

The new outfit will produce French- and English-language films, series and TV movies.

PGS Entertainment, a family-owned financing and licensing company led by Philippe and Guillaume Soutter, will fully finance the development of Gemma Pictures’ slate over the next three years, as well as handling back office functions.

Celerier will lead the company, which said it is in development on a slate of 10 projects with established French and international talent.

Celerier was the CEO and founder of Paris-based Mars Films, which distributed UK and US feature films including Billy Elliot, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Million Dollar Baby, Farenheit 9/11, 12 years a Slave and Moonlight. He left the company last year after it completed a financial restructuring.

He was also a producer on French-language feature The Belier Family (2014), which was adapted into English as the Oscar-nominated CODA. Celerier was an associate producer on the latter. His other production credits include Two is a Family (2016), Le Jeu (2018) and Love at Second Sight (2019).

“After distributing so many wonderful films, I started having this strong desire to dedicate myself to producing movies that I love watching and we seldom make in France; films that are filled with emotions… inspirational fairy tales about ordinary people, like the Working Title movies I handled, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love Actually and Billy Elliot,” said Celerier.

“I saw with the four movies I produced that there is a large audience for these types of movies, even if they are made outside of the US.”

In a joint statement, Philippe and Guillaume Soutter added: “We are complementary because we have a different expertise and, at the same time, we share the same independent spirit and international ambition.”

PGS Entertainment, which has offices in Paris, Hong Kong, Geneva, Barcelona and LA, has distributed kids’ titles including Alvinnn!!! & the Chipmunks, Miraculous Ladybug and The Jungle Bunch. The company also handles distribution of animated series Moominvalley.