Gillian Berrie

BIOGRAPHIE

In 1996 Gillian co-founded Sigma Films with director David Mackenzie, writing and producing serial award-winning shorts, ‘California Sunshine’ and ‘Somersault’. Alongside, she worked in numerous film and television roles as well as Casting Director on Ken Loach’s ‘My Name is Joe’ (nominated for the Palme D’or in Cannes, where Peter Mullan won best actor for his role). Lynne Ramsay’s legendary ‘Ratcatcher’ was also cast by Gillian. Gillian produced many of David Mackenzie’s films including: ‘Last Great Wilderness’, ‘Hallam Foe’, ‘Young Adam’, ‘You Instead’ (aka Tonight You're Mine), ‘Perfect Sense’, ‘Starred Up’ and the biggest film ever to be made in Scotland, ‘Outlaw King’. She was also heavily involved in the post-production, festival strategy, UK,US and European theatrical releases and Oscar campaign for Academy Award Nominee ‘Hell or High Water’. All of Sigma's films regularly premiere at A-List festivals and have received over 150 awards internationally, including the Prix de Jury in Cannes for ‘Red Road’, and the Silver Bear in Berlin for ‘Hallam Foe’, as well as numerous BIFA and BAFTA nominations and awards. In 2012 she founded ‘Jumpcut’, the UK's one and only, intensive, mentor-led Summer School to provide a fast-track for youngsters into working in the film industry. This project was a runaway success. Over 75% of the participants went onto working in the industry. It ran for two years and won several awards. She also co-produced the multi-prize winner ‘Dear Frankie’ and Jonathan’s Glazer’s ‘Under the Skin’ (which won 23 awards and received 110 nominations). Gillian also produced several features for first time feature film directors, including David Mackenzie, Colin Kennedy, Andrea Arnold, Morag MacKinnon and Ciaran Foy, as well as numerous additional shorts including the lauded ‘I Love Luci’. Over the years, Gillian co-produced with Denmark’s Zentropa many times, including ‘Wilbur (Wants to kill himself)’, ‘Dogville,’ ‘Manderlay’, ‘Brothers’, ‘Dear Wendy’, ‘Donkeys’ and ‘After the Wedding’. Her most successful collaboration was ‘Advance Party’ a fast-track-first-time-director project which included Andrea Arnold’s ‘Red Road’ which won 6 BAFTA’S (5 Scottish and Carl Foreman awards) 2 BIFA’s, the Cannes Prix de Jury, and many other awards. In 2014 Gillian received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of West of Scotland for her contribution to film, culture and the arts. Gillian continues to contribute to the next generation of Scottish film-makers through Short Circuit, which is in its 3rd year. ‘Sharp Shorts’ has awarded over £0.4m in funding across 27 filmmaking teams, creating opportunities for Scotland’s most exciting and diverse emerging screen talent. The first batch of short films are screening internationally at festivals such as SXSW, BFI Flare, EIFF, Dinard, LSFF, Berlin, with multiple awards. Gillian is currently in post-production with Taron Egerton's forthcoming feature, ‘Tetris’ and exec-produced the critically acclaimed Pilot and 2nd episode of the Disney/ FX series, ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ for which Andrew Garfield has been nominated for an Emmy (2022). Gillian has numerous feature film and tv projects in development and has recently written and directed her first short film, ‘Hunger'.

FILMOGRAPHIE