Project Description
Danny Perkins, has more than two decades of experience in the international film business. Spanning across all facets of the industry from development, production and IP acquisition to marketing and distribution in all of its forms.
He co-founded UK indie Optimum Releasing in 1999, which was acquired by Vivendi-owned Studiocanal in 2006. He assumed the role of UK CEO for the company in 2010 and departed in 2018 to form new venture EFG – Elysian Film Group.
Throughout his career, Perkins has overseen the production and distribution of critical and box office hits such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Paddington 1 & 2, Legend, Macbeth, Early Man and the Shaun The Sheep Movie.
His taste in local fare led to the acquisition and distribution of UK breakthrough hits such as This Is England, In The Loop, Four Lions, Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa and The Imitation Game.
Perkins has also a proven track record for supporting the very best of U.S. independent production and talent with significant awards traction across titles such as Carol, Manchester By The Sea, Room, Hell Or High Water, The Wrestler and The Hurt Locker.
He has long been an advocate for world cinema, having acquired and distributed prestigious titles such as Amores Perros, Pan’s Labyrinth, Spirited Away, Persepolis and A Prophet to name a few.
Perkins has built a legacy across both companies for nurturing emerging and established filmmaking talent:
Optimum backed writer-director Paul King’s first feature Bunny and The Bull and continued their collaboration through to the Paddington franchise. Filmmaking talent such as Ben Wheatley, Idris Elba, Rian Johnson, Paddy Considine, James Marsh, Ron Howard, Guillermo del Toro, Jacques Audiard, Kathryn Bigelow, Todd Haynes, Chris Morris, Shane Meadows, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Tomas Alfredson, Garth Jennings, Philippa Lowthorpe, Marjane Satrapi, Joe Cornish, Lynne Ramsay, Juan Antonio Bayona and Hayao Miyazaki have all enjoyed a collaborative relationship with both Optimum and Studiocanal UK, under Perkins’ creativity, guidance and leadership.
During his tenure, Optimum/Studiocanal have generated £470m ($650m) at the UK box office since 1999 and received 114 BAFTA Nominations and 24 Wins.
Films that Perkins is credited on have earned £175m ($260m) at the UK box office and $1.1bn worldwide.
He leaves Studiocanal UK having developed strong personal relationships with all of the major UK production companies including Working Title Films, Heyday Films, Aardman, Blueprint Pictures, See-Saw Films, Warp Films and Big Talk Productions.
A board member of Creative England, Perkins has delivered the keynote speech at the UK Film Production Finance Market and spoken at the BSAC conference, NFTS and BFI.