New Indie Studio Launches

NEW YORK: DF Indie Studios (DFIS) is a new New York-based venture that aims to finance and distribute between 10 and 12 "commercially viable" independent feature films per year, budgeted at up to $10 million and backed by a guaranteed U.S. theatrical release.

Founded by entertainment finance and business development experts Mary Dickinson and Charlene Fisher, DFIS is offering producers $150 million in distribution guarantees, foreign sales, promotion and advertising (P&A) revolver, as well as distribution across all platforms. Among those already working with DFIS are Scott Free, Ridley and Tony Scott’s company (Gladiator, American Gangster); This is that Productions (Adventureland, In the Bedroom, The Ice Storm); and Jennifer Fox (Michael Clayton, Good Night and Good Luck).

The DFIS advisory board includes Ben Silverman, co-chairman of NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios; David Wiederecht, president of Investment Strategies and chief investment officer for GE Asset Management; David Spieler, global head of Duff and Phelps Technology and Entertainment Practices; and Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton.

"To launch a completely unlevered company in the current climate is the right way to go for our investors, partners and producers," said Mary Dickinson, who serves as CEO. "Our investors appreciate that they will share in all the revenue streams of the studio. They love that we will be also be generating 10,000 to 15,000 film jobs over the next five years, and pumping millions of dollars into local economies with DFIS."

"We couldn’t be launching the company at a more perfect time," said Charlene Fisher, president and COO. "There is a huge opportunity in the independent film world and we believe we have found a singular place in the market. There is a growing demand for commercial features, and a lack of quality products at the right price. At DFIS we will work with our production partners and provide end to end financing, a rigorous greenlight process and guaranteed U.S. distribution to meet this increasing demand. No one else is solely supporting films produced for up to $10 million in this way."