True Brit Entertainment, a U.K. theatrical distributor established less than three years ago, has filed for administration, paralleling the U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. Founded by Zygi Kamasa, a former CEO at Lionsgate U.K. & Europe and Marv Studios Group, the company struggled in a challenging market despite releasing critically acclaimed films like “The Death of Robin Hood” featuring Hugh Jackman.
In a statement, Kamasa indicated that the tough market conditions necessitated this decision and that an independent specialist has been appointed to explore options for the company and its creditors.
True Brit was set up in November 2020, aiming to focus on U.K. films with plans to invest in and release 4-8 titles annually, alongside co-financing over $50 million in productions. Initially funded by Three Six Zero, which manages talents such as Calvin Harris and FKA Twigs, the company’s first release was “The Critic” in 2023.
While its early releases, including the comedy “Marching Powder,” performed well, following titles like “Christmas Karma” and “Giant,” along with “The Death of Robin Hood,” faced significant financial challenges. The recent release of “Sunny Dancer” also underperformed, highlighting the ongoing difficulties faced by independent films in the U.K.
Looking ahead, titles such as the boxing biopic “In the Shadows” and the psychological horror comedy “Victorian Psycho” were slated for upcoming releases, though the fate of these projects remains uncertain following this announcement.
