The Little Film Company-founded and wholly owned by Robbie and Ellen Little-is an independent world sales and production company distributing 4 to 6 pictures per year.

The Little Film Company recently exec-produced TSOTSI, written and directed by Gavin Hood, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film after winning both The Standard Life Audience Award and the Michael Powell Award for Best Film in Edinburgh and the prestigious People's Choice Award at The Toronto International Film Festival and AN AMERICAN HAUNTING written and directed by Courtney Solomon with Donald Sutherland, Sissy Spacek, James D'Arcy and Rachel Hurd-Wood.

 

Robbie Little
Co-President
Ellen Little
Co-President

 

Ellen and Robbie have played a role in financing, producing and/or distributing over 300 films, including such titles as: WAKING NED DEVINE (directed by Kirk Jones, starring Ian Bannen and David Kelley); EVELYN (directed by Bruce Beresford, starring Pierce Brosnan); THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA, Academy Award-nominee for Best Foreign Language Film; Silvio Soldini's Italian comedy, BREAD AND TULIPS; ALEGRIA, with the Cirque du Soleil, a French/Dutch/Canadian coproduction; Marleen Gorris's ANTONIA'S LINE, winner of the 1995 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; Virginia Woolf's MRS. DALLOWAY (starring Vanessa Redgrave, directed by Marleen Gorris); JERUSALEM and A SONG FOR MARTIN, both directed by Bille August; FELLINI: I'M A BORN LIAR, directed by Damien Pettigrew; AUTUMN SPRING, directed by Vladimir Michalek; BETWEEN STRANGERS, directed by Eduardo Ponti (starring Sophia Loren); JULIE WALKING HOME, directed by Agnieska Holland; and many British films, including Noel Coward's RELATIVE VALUES, directed by Eric Styles (starring Julie Andrews); LAWLESS HEART, directed by Tom Husinger and Neil Hunter; Wallace Shawn's THE DESIGNATED MOURNER, directed by David Hare (starring Mike Nichols and Miranda Richardson). Other distinguished films include Julian Schnabel's BEFORE NIGHT FALLS; Ian McKellen's adaptation of SHAKESPEARE'S RICHARD III, directed by Richard Loncraine; and John Sayles's THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH.

Ellen recently developed and produced THE BOYS & GIRLS FROM COUNTY CLARE (directed by John Irvin, starring Andrea Corr and Colm Meaney) and exec-produced THE SNOW WALKER (written and directed by Charles Martin Smith, starring Barry Pepper). The Littles also served as Executive Producers on Julie Taymor's screen adaptation of SHAKESPEARE'S TITUS (Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange), John Turturro's ILLIMINATA (Susan Sarandon, John Turturro), TRADING MOM (Sissy Spacek), and THE PROPHECY film franchise (Christopher Walken, Brittany Murphy). They have championed first films from directors like Roland Emmerich (GHOST CHASE and MOON 44); Tamra Davis (GUNCRAZY, with Drew Barrymore); Hal Hartley (THE UNBELIEVEABLE TRUTH); Scott Elliot (A MAP OF THE WORLD, starring Sigourney Weaver and Julianne Moore); and Bill Condon (GODS AND MONSTERS, Oscar-winner for Best Adapted Screenplay).

When Ellen and Robbie moved to Los Angeles from Rome, Italy-where they had been living-they co-founded Overseas Filmgroup in 1980, a foreign sales and production organization. Later they established First Look Media to package, finance and distribute theatrical motion pictures in the U.S. domestic market. As President and Co-Chairman of First Look Media, Robbie then created First Look Home Entertainment, the company's own video/DVD distribution division, which has grown into one of the most successful independent labels in the country. Robbie and Ellen remain shareholders of First Look Studios. Founding members of the Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), the Littles are also founding members of The Archive Council, the industry support group for the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Archive Film Preservation Program. They also serve on the Board of Directors of the Antonio David Blanco Scholarship Fund, which annually benefits deserving students in the UCLA Department of Film and Television. The Littles also support scholarship funds honoring Irvin Shapiro and Walter Manley at the Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.
 

 

Clay Epstein
VP Sales and Acquisitions
 

Clay Epstein joined The Little Film Company in January 2006 as Vice President, Sales and Acquisitions to play a key role in maintaining Robbie and Ellen's vision of the company. With responsibilities that include the development, acquisition, and distribution of theatrical product, Clay is also involved in the marketing of all distributed titles.

Prior to joining The Little Film Company, Clay spent over four years at First Look Studios (formerly, First Look Media) where he held the position of Sales Executive. He was solely responsible for all distribution of the company's 300+ title library to Asia, Ancillary and New Media markets. Before moving into sales, he was Director of Sales Operations, overseeing the marketing for the International Sales Division, organizing the company's presence at all major Film and TV markets and supervising the sales support staff. Clay started his career at the legendary Kushner-Locke as Assistant, International Sales after graduating with a Degree in Film Production from California Sate University, Northridge.