Gareth Jones

Biography

Gareth has been involved in the financing, sales and distribution of feature films for over twenty five years. After graduating in law from University College London, Gareth practised as a corporate lawyer with City firm Macfarlanes. He joined HandMade Films as an in-house lawyer in 1984, went on to head HandMade and subsequently became Managing Director of Alibi Films International, both international film sales companies. Gareth negotiated the corporate acquisition of HandMade Films by Paragon, a Canadian public company, and was instrumental in floating Alibi Communications plc on AIM and sat on the main board.

Gareth has financed and sold international rights in dozens of independent feature films including WITHNAIL AND I, MONA LISA, HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING, NUNS ON THE RUN, THE MAN WITH RAIN IN HIS SHOES and LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS.

Gareth executive produced Australian box office success THE HARD WORD starring Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths and pre-bought foreign sales rights in Sundance winner and U.S. indie hit SECRETARY starring James Spader and Maggie Gyllenhal.  Both films sold to Lionsgate in the U.S.  He also financed, co-executive produced and sold international rights in the Irish comedy MYSTICS.

Gareth joined Winchester Films in November 2002 as Head of UK Film Production and Financing to coordinate Winchester’s existing UK film activities including development, production, international sales and production finance. Winchester merged with Cobalt Media Group in July 2003 and became ContentFilm plc in 2004. Gareth actively advised the Winchester main board during these mergers. After the merger with Content Gareth remained with the company as a consultant working on the acquisition and packaging of new projects including THE BUSINESS. Gareth also worked closely with the U.K. distribution team at Content on the acquisition and U.K. theatrical releases of several films including OPEN RANGE starring Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall and MY SUMMER OF LOVE with BBC Films. He has a business Galaxy Pictures that releases feature films in the UK theatrically.

Gareth has his own film consultancy business and he works with producers and filmmakers as an executive producer to arrange finance, presales and UK and international sales on feature films.

Filmography

PSYCH 9, a psychological thriller produced by Los Angeles based Green Card Pictures and directed by Andrew Shortell, starring Cary Elwes, Sara Foster and Michael Biehn.

Gareth sold the film to Universal in the U.K. and other territories and the film was theatrically released in the U.K.

Gareth negotiated a North American sale for the film with Lionsgate.

4,3,2,1 – the story of four teenage girls in London over three days starring Emma Roberts and Tamsin Edgerton.

Written by the highly successful writer/director Noel Clarke (KIDULTHOOD, ADULTHOOD) and directed by Noel and Mark Davis, Gareth negotiated a pre-sale to Universal of the U.K. and several European territories including the U.K.

The film was released with Universal’s backing and has taken £1 million at the UK box office and has sold over 300,000 DVDs in the UK alone.

WE ARE THE FREAKS – a teen comedy feature film written and directed by Justin Edgar starring Jamie Blackley and Michael Smiley which is in post-production. Gareth is advising on finance and UK and international sales and has negotiated a UK distribution deal with Metrodome for a theatrical release in late 2013.

GRIDIRON UK – a comedy feature film based on the true story of one of the first American Football teams which started in the Midlands in the 1980s.  The film is released in cinemas in summer 2013 and Gareth has negotiated the sale of the UK rights to Universal and is representing the film internationally.

ALONE – a sci-fi feature film starring Damian Lewis as a lone astronaut who has 24 hours to save the Earth.  Filming to commence in the UK in early 2014.  GJ is advising on finance and international sales.