Why Anton CEO Sébastien Raybaud Sees Europe as a Prime Spot for Film Production

9 November 2024 | Source

Anton CEO Sébastien Raybaud discusses the company’s European strategy, highlighting opportunities in co-productions, soft-money incentives, and the UK's entrepreneurial talent. With a $107m credit line, Anton is expanding its film slate, including action, thrillers, and animation, while growing its role in Europe-based English-language productions.

Anton, the production, sales, and financing company launched by Sébastien Raybaud in 2011, is capitalizing on its European roots and UK talent to expand its global reach. Officially headquartered in Luxembourg with offices in London, Berlin, and Los Angeles, the company operates primarily from the UK, focusing on English-language projects and leveraging European co-production opportunities.

“It’s in our DNA to be both British and continental European,” Raybaud explains. “The UK has some of the best talents in the world. You just need people like us to fund it.”

With a $107m (€100m) credit line secured through BlackRock, Anton has increased its production capacity, greenlighting eight feature films in the last year. Projects include the psychological thriller Victorian Psycho starring Margaret Qualley and animated feature Memoir Of A Snail, which has won awards at Annecy, Sitges, and London. In 2025, Anton will release Greenland: Migration, a $90m sequel distributed by Lionsgate in the US, and David Mackenzie’s London-set action-thriller Fuze, starring Theo James and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

A Focus on Europe

Raybaud emphasizes the advantages of Europe’s co-production and tax-incentive frameworks, especially in territories like the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This strategy enables Anton to create substantial English-language theatrical packages, positioning itself as a leading player in Europe.

“European directors often lack the ability to connect with Anglo-Saxon audiences,” Raybaud notes. “UK producers bridge that gap, helping European filmmakers cross over successfully.”

Anton continues to prioritize action, thriller, and sci-fi genres but has also developed its animation portfolio, working with auteurs like Claude Barras (Sauvages). The company is expanding into TV, with in-house projects like the BBC co-production Cheaters.

Industry Adjustments

Raybaud remains optimistic about the film industry despite challenges. He highlights the reduced supply of English-language genre films from major studios and streamers as a significant opportunity for Anton. “It’s the same demand but fewer suppliers,” he says, adding that Europe offers cost-efficient solutions for producing high-quality films.

While the US market has been difficult, Raybaud anticipates a rebound as studios re-evaluate licensing priorities in response to industry restructuring. “We are closer to the end of this massive adjustment than we are to the beginning,” he concludes.

Anton is well-positioned to navigate this shifting landscape, balancing commercial viability with creative innovation. The company’s growth underscores its commitment to developing English-language films with strong European roots.