RAVEN - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Writer / Producer / Director / Editor
Andrew Thomas Hunt is a Writer/Producer/Director/Editor and one of the founding partners of Raven Banner. Andrew's feature length debut Sweet Karma premiered at the 2009 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, and was the catalyst for the formation of Raven Banner Entertainment - a worldwide sales company specializing in genre films.
Annick Mahnert studied film production at the New York Film Academy and worked as a production assistant at Roger Corman's Concorde-New Horizons. After moving back to Switzerland, she went on to work at 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. In 2007 she became the Sales Manager for Frenetic Films, a major independent film distributor in Zurich, dealing with Studio Canal, Europacorp and Wild Bunch titles amongst others. She then joined the renowned sales agency Celluloid Dreams at their Paris office handling sales and acquisitions. In early 2013 she left to pursue greener pastures, joining the Raven Banner team.
With over 25 years worth of sales experience, in a variety of industries, James Co Founded Raven Banner Entertainment in 2010, overseeing Worldwide Sales, and Business Development. Having quickly established professional relationships with some of the industry's leading distribution companies (Sony, Universal, IFC, Magnolia, Lionsgate, AMC to name but a few), James annually attends all the major world markets and festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, AFM, and TIFF.
Job Titles:
- Founder of Film Market Access
- Manager of Festivals
Kirk Cooper is the founder of Film Market Access, a film consulting and PR firm. Kirk's contribution to the international film community spans over 17 years with experience in the global arts and the entertainment industry. As a consultant at FMA, Kirk has assisted over 200 producers/directors via FMA's Market Readiness Program to successfully participate in the Marche du Film at Festival de Cannes, Hot Docs, Frontières at Fantasia International Film Festival and TIFF. Kirk's industry experience, passion for independent cinema and media relations savvy provide a unique and compelling perspective to filmmakers, producers, cultural programmers and clients. He
continues to offer a critical and necessary voice in the Canadian entertainment sector. Kirk's strength lies in Film Programming, Communications, Professional Development, and Project Management for Film & Television. Kirk has curated film programming for festivals such as - Durham Region International Film Festival, Victoria International Film Festival, ReelWorld Film Festival, Inside Out (LGBT) Film Festival, Planet In Focus, Canadian Film Festival, River to River and Pan Africa Film Festival.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Sales & Acquisitions
Michael has almost 10 years of experience in international sales and acquisitions. Getting his start at the international sales company Cinemavault, he has managed acquisitions of films in all genres, and at many budget ranges, including the Academy-Award nominated film ‘Tangerines'.
Michael co-founded Annex Entertainment in 2015, with a goal of pushing the business of international sales farther up production timeline to include financing and development. He brings this experience to Raven Banner, where he continues to manage international sales and acquisitions, while coordinating with in-house productions and other early-stage developments to ensure that the creative and business components of the company work in harmony.
Michael Paszt is one of the most respected names in the arena of independent film. A Managing Partner in Raven Banner Entertainment, Michael has focused on building a brand that represents unique genre driven films including The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Gaspar Noe's Climax, Tigers Are Not Afraid and the Oscar® nominated, Embrace of the Serpent. Michael has also Executive Produced over 30 feature films including the Sundance Film Festival hit, Turbo Kid and SXSW hit PG: Psycho Goreman. Michael originally began his career as a director on music videos working mostly with metal bands such as Sacrifice and Anvil. Nail in the Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro is his feature documentary debut.
Michaelangelo started as a marketing coordinator for an independent film company right before the economic meltdown in 2008 and the downturn of physical sales in the home entertainment business along with the rise of the emergence of content online. He always knew that despite the chaotic nature of the economy, the one constant he could continue developing was his network of business relationships and how to hone his marketing message effectively to that network. His marketing background paired with his knowledge and experience of doing business in this new era of digital content consumption allows him to manage the complete picture at Raven Banner.