German production company Freud & Ecstasy has opened its first U.S. office, and Fabrizio Ellis has been tapped to lead it. The New York-based office will open next month.
Ellis joins from Rashad Ernest Greene’s Mi Alma Films, where she was creative executive.
Freud & Ecstasy was launched last year by producer and writer
Frederick Ehrhardt is supported by the Regional Film Fund Nord Media. The company’s headquarters are located in Lower Saxony, Germany.
“Fabrizio has an incredible instinct for story and a keen eye for hidden gems,” Ehrhardt said. “As a bilingual creator with both American and Italian roots, he brings an international perspective and artistic sensibility that will truly help move Freud & Ecstasy forward.”
Freud & Ecstasy has signed a three-film deal with Goya Award finalist Pablo Pagán, in addition to emerging talent such as San Sebastian Best New Director nominee Shi Hung Tsao and Canadian Film Center alumnus King Louie Palomo.
Pagan’s first production company short film Voyager project has been picked up by Berlin-based sales agent and distribution company Magnet Films, which will handle worldwide streaming.
“From the beginning, our goal has been to build a company that operates fluidly across borders creatively and structurally,” Ehrhardt said. “Our location in northern Germany and presence in the United States allows us to connect filmmakers, financing and audiences in a way that reflects how independent film is evolving globally.”
“Our goal is to support filmmakers whose work travels culturally as well as geographically,” Ehrhardt added. “We are building a foundation for both major festivals and long-term global distribution.”
