Former mk2 film sales and acquisitions agents, Olivier Barbier and Ulla Beszok, are teaming up with former Orange Studio executive Lenny Porte to create an international sales company, Lucky Number.
The trio, who between them have worked on hundreds of author titles, including Justine Treat Anatomy of a FallCeline Shyama Photo of a woman on fire and Michelle Hazanavicius. The artist to name a few – are currently building their roster for a market launch in early 2025.
Their goal is to handle 10 French and international films by authors per year, roughly divided between two to three animated films, and seven to eight fiction and documentary films, including works with new voices.
The trio wants to offer a boutique service, which also includes financing and distribution strategies from the earliest stages of development, to ensure maximum impact on international markets.
In a statement they said: “In an industry that is becoming increasingly complex in terms of production and distribution, Lucky Number wants to put the idea of service at the center of its activity, with the aim of strengthening support for talents, producers and distributors.” Creation of the company.
Thanks to the international expansion of the animation sector, the co-founders of Lucky Number aspire to become a major player in the animation field.
To this end, they have formed a strategic partnership with Moon-Keys International Content. The company, which specializes in financing and distributing animation, was founded by former Mikros Animation executive Boris Herzog in 2023. The partnership will bring in two to three mainstream and authored animated films per year.
Moon Keys-International Content is also a shareholder in the company, backed by Movie One, a fund dedicated to financing and distributing feature-length animated films.
Lucky Number has also signed partnerships with Metanoïa, a digital marketing agency led by Thomas Creveuil, which will design innovative campaigns for Lucky Number’s sales titles.
The company also collaborates with sister post-production companies, IIW, which specializes in VFZ, and Studio LUX, which offers editorial, dailies management, grading and mastering services.
The trio says these partnerships will enhance the range of services they can offer to international producers and distributors.
Piszczuk served as Senior Vice President of International Sales at mk2 Films from 2014 to 2021, during which time she worked on award-winning titles such as Pawel Pawlikowski. Cold WarCeline Sciamma. Photo of a woman on fire and Tom Fool Maria by Callas.
She joined French production company Nord-Ouest Films as a producer with a focus on discovering new talent. She will maintain her ties with Nord-Ouest Films at the same time as she builds Lucky Number.
Barbier began his career in international sales at Wild Bunch (now Goodfellas) in 2011, working on auteur films such as Ken Loach’s. I’m Daniel BlakeNadine Labaki Capernaumand Hirokazu Koreeda Thieves.
He joined MK2 Films in 2018 in the acquisition department and was promoted to head of acquisition and development two years later. During his time at MK2 Films, he worked on films such as Portrait of a Lady on FireJoachim Trier. Worst person in the world And Justin Treat Anatomy of a fall.
Burt began his career at Orange Studio in 2007, co-producing more than 150 films and creating a catalog of more than 1,000 films.
In 2013, he helped lead the creation of the TV and SVOD sales division in France, as Deputy Director of Sales. In 2016, he joined the Orange Studio acquisition committee, and in 2018, he co-created Orange Studio’s international sales division.
During his time at Orange, he worked on titles such as Michel Hazanavicius artistAbderrahmane Sissako TimbuktuFlorian Zeller. FatherMark Osborne. Little Prince and Olivier Assayas Cels Maria.