By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com

Annapurna Pictures Launches TV Shingle

Posted Tuesday, September 27th, 2016 - Comments Off on Annapurna Pictures Launches TV Shingle
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ANNAPURNA PICTURES TAPS SUE NAEGLE TO LAUNCH TELEVISION DIVISION 

Naegle will serve as President for the production and finance company’s newly created TV initiative

(Los Angeles, CA) September 27, 2016 – Annapurna Pictures has expanded its operations with the creation of Annapurna Television, a new production arm that will focus on building out the company’s television slate for broadcast, cable, and digital platforms. Sue Naegle, principal of Naegle Ink and former President of HBO Entertainment, has been tapped to run the new enterprise and, alongside founder Megan Ellison, will spearhead Annapurna’s TV production and development, focusing on projects that align with the company’s brand of smart and original programming in collaboration with top creative voices.

 

Naegle joins Annapurna after three years leading her own television and film production company, Naegle Ink, where she serves as an executive producer on Robert Kirkman’s Outcast on Cinemax and has numerous projects in development with HBO and other cable networks. Previously, Naegle served as the President of HBO Entertainment where she was instrumental in shepherding such shows asGame of Thrones and Veep—the most recent Emmy winners for Best Drama Series and Best Comedy Series, respectively—as well as the award-winning series Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Treme, ​Eastbound and Down, Enlightened, and ​Girls.

 

“We are thrilled to further expand our television business and continue our commitment to all forms of storytelling,” says Ellison. “I could not be more excited to have the opportunity to work with and learn from Sue Naegle. She has such a passion and understanding of this medium, and has truly approached it from every angle. As I’ve gotten to know Sue, not only is she brilliant with an astonishing expertise both creatively and for the business, but also, she’s an incredible person to invite into this close-knit group of individuals over here at Annapurna. Her track record speaks for itself and her values could not be more aligned with our goals as a company.”

 

Various projects currently in development at Naegle Ink will transition to Annapurna. Annapurna is already currently in development on a series for premium cable channel Epix, written by Angela Robinson and Alex Kondrake, about the intersecting lives of Hollywood icons and rivals Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.

 

“I am so excited to join Annapurna and help spearhead the exciting future of Annapurna Television. Annapurna is a company that has been unwavering in their commitment to building distinctive and bold programming in a time of unprecedented production.” said Naegle. “Whether I’ve been an agent, network president or producer, defending and nurturing innovative, compelling narratives and aesthetic excellence has been my mission and privilege. I’m so thrilled to find partners like Megan and her incredible team that share the same core philosophy, and I hope that this alliance will yield indelible television shows that reflect and challenge our culture.”

 

Joining Naegle in the transition will be top Naegle Ink executives Kit Giordano and Ali Krug, who will serve as Senior Vice President and Vice President, respectively. Prior to joining Naegle Ink in 2013, Giordano served as a VP for Illumination Entertainment and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Films. Krug previously worked alongside Naegle in series development and production at HBO before moving to Naegle Ink.

 

ABOUT ANNAPURNA PICTURES

Annapurna Pictures is a film production and finance company founded by Megan Ellison that focuses on creating sophisticated, high-quality content which sets itself apart. Ellison successfully upholds the company’s vision to produce critically and commercially conscious projects which appeal to a diverse audience, allowing filmmakers and artists to create story content of all genres and mediums while preserving their authenticity. Annapurna’s most recent projects include, Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon’s breakout animated film, SAUSAGE PARTY, written by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir and released by Sony Pictures, which had the highest-grossing opening weekend for an R-rated animated film in history; Ana Lily Amirpour’s THE BAD BATCH, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and will be released by Screen Media in 2017; Todd Solondz’s WIENER-DOG, which was released by Amazon Studios to great reviews after premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival; Richard Linklater’s EVERYBODY WANTS SOME, was released in April through Paramount Pictures to rave reviews after premiering at SXSW in Austin. Additionally, Annapurna is readying for the release of 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, starring Annette Bening, Greta Gerwig, and Billy Crudup which will premiere at the New York Film Festival and be released later this year by A24; Annapurna is also currently in production on Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s UNTITLED DETROIT PROJECT, starring John Boyega and is developing the film adaptation of Maria Semple’s WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE, to be directed by Richard Linklater. Annapurna’s projects since 2012 have earned thirty-one Academy Award nominations, and Ellison is one of only four honorees ever to receive two Best Picture nominations in the same year. Those projects include Kathryn Bigelow’s ZERO DARK THIRTY, David O. Russell’s JOY, Bennett Miller’s FOXCATCHER, David O. Russell’s AMERICAN HUSTLE, Spike Jonze’s HER, Wong Kar Wai’s THE GRANDMASTER, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s THE MASTER. Additionally, Annapurna is partners with Mark Boal on the company Page One, where they produce season two of the hit podcast SERIAL. Bigelow also directed and partnered with Annapurna on the animated short LAST DAYS, about illegal elephant poaching and the ivory trade.

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