Managing Director – Sunray Films Limited
Following the closure of Focus Features International (FFI) in December 2013, veteran executive, Alison Thompson has set up Sunray Films Limited, a UK-based production/sales company. Titles on the new slate include acclaimed British musical, SUNSHINE ON LEITH, Mike Leigh’s upcoming, MR TURNER and Asif Kapadia’s new documentary about AMY WINEHOUSE.
Previously, Alison was co-president of FFI, one of the world’s leading international sales agents and financiers, a subsidiary of ‘mini-studio’ – Focus Features’. Owned by Universal Pictures, FFI’s prestigious slate included BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, MOONRISE KINGDOM and more recently BLUE JASMINE.
Alison came to FFI in September 2005, directly from the UK-based Pathé Pictures International. Among the many films that Pathé handled were THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES and GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING. Prior to joining Pathé, she was chief executive of The Sales Company, one of the UK’s top sales agencies through the 1990s. During her 14 years there, Alison represented more than 100 films from the world’s most celebrated directors. She began her career with the Rank Organisation and Channel Four.