Diarmuid Hughes, former Head of Post Production at Searchlight UK, has been hired to lead Forty Foot Pictures' new co-production arm.
Production outfit Forty Foot Pictures, producer of the Netflix film I Used to Be Famous, is ramping up its co-production activities with the hire of producer Diarmuid Hughes to lead new business and partnerships. Hughes is the former Head of Post Production at Searchlight UK. His credits including Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin, and Raine Allen Miller’s Rye Lane. He has previously worked across production and post at Warner Bros., Big Talk, and Working Title.
With a base in both Dublin and London, Forty Foot Pictures are positioned to avail of both the Irish section 481 tax incentive and the newly launched UK independent film tax credit, which offer over 30% relief in either case.
Founder/producer Collie McCarthy, a Screen International Rising Star in 2023, said of Forty Foot’s new venture: “We want to capitalize on our unique position as a genuinely dual Irish/UK company and enable producers in either territory to get their projects over the line. Co-producing with us will feel like a domestic partnership creatively whilst gaining access to another set of incentives, funding options and facilities. I’m delighted Diarmuid is going to spearhead it for us, he brings a wealth of industry experience and post production expertise to the team.”
Hughes added: “I’m thrilled to join Forty Foot Pictures at such a pivotal time. The opportunity to help drive the company’s growth alongside collaborating with talented producers both domestically and internationally is incredibly exciting.”
The addition of Hughes follows the hiring of development exec Lois Gration from Netflix last year to build out Forty Foot’s film and television slate. The company’s debut feature I Used to Be Famous starring Ed Skrein (Deadpool) was Netflix’s 4th most watched film globally in its opening week in September 2022. Their next feature, Irish mockumentary Fran The Man, is currently in post-production.
The Forty Foot team will be attending the upcoming Galway Film Fleadh and Marketplace and can be contacted at info @ fortyfootpictures.com
