Number 9 TV Formed Through Joint Venture

Beta Film and Number 9 Films have partnered to form the subsidiary Number 9 TV, with Paramount and Cineflix Rights alum Kate Laffey tapped as head of TV.

The joint venture aims to focus on high-end scripted television drama, combining the expertise of Number 9’s creative team with Beta’s experience in developing, financing and distributing projects internationally. Laffey joins from Paramount TV International Studios, where she was head of content for the U.K. and Europe.

Laffey also previously spent time at distributor Cineflix Rights, serving as VP of acquisitions.

Number 9 Films was co-founded by producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, who currently serve as co-CEOs, in 2002 and has been responsible for producing celebrated independent films in the U.S. and Europe. This includes the Oscar-nominated Living, scripted by Kazuo Ishiguro and starring Bill Nighy and Aimee Lou Wood; the Oscar-nominated Carol, by Todd Haynes; and Paolo Sorrentino’s multi-award-winning Youth, starring Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel.

“This opportunity that Beta have gifted us is perfect timing for Number 9 to fulfil our long felt passionate ambition to expand our creative ideas into producing longform stories,” Karlsen and Woolley said. “We are excited to welcome Kate into the team and look forward to combining our motion picture experience with her hands on understanding of the television production and co-production universe. With the vast knowledge and support of Beta, we are confident this will become a successful combination of talents and knowhow to make a lasting contribution to a constantly changing and vibrant industry.”

“I’m delighted to join such a prestigious company as Number 9 Films at such a critical time in our industry’s evolution,” Laffey commented. “I am excited to accelerate their nascent TV slate and to work with Beta to deliver a pipeline of strong scripted originals that will appeal to the international market.”

Koby Gal Raday, Beta’s chief content officer, added, “Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley are exceptional producers with a distinctive taste and a clear artistic vision. Their award-wining productions discovered and championed some of the most exciting U.K. and international talents and keep winning audiences’ and critics’ hearts. We are so proud to partner with Number 9 as they venture into scripted series. Their DNA complements our vision of being the ultimate European haven for A-list creatives. We heartly welcome Kate Laffey and look forward to working with this fabulous team.”