Established in 1993, Film Bridge International (“FBI”) acts as representative and Executive Producer for motion pictures and television programs produced and distributed around the world. The Los Angeles based company participates in all principal international film, television and video festivals and markets. FBI has represented films from celebrated international and Academy Award acclaimed Directors as Pedro Almodovar, Jose Luis Garci, Jan Sverak, Paul Verhoeven, Fred Schepisi and John McTiernan. 

Combining with top Directing and Producing talent, FBI has recently begun to expand its feature film business. Along with noted producer Jonathan Sanger (producer of “Vanilla Sky,” “Mission Impossible II,” “Elephant Man” and the musical, “The Producers”), FBI is overseeing the financing for the WW II courtroom drama, “Beast of Bataan” to be directed by the noted filmmaker, Paul Verhoeven (“Black Book,” “Basic Instinct,” “Total Recall”) Koji Yakusho (“Babel,” “Memoirs of a Geisha”) will star in an ensemble cast. Filming begins first quarter 2009 in Queensland Australia.

Filming was recently completed on, “Dolan’s Cadillac,” a thriller based on a short story by Stephen King. Utilizing a combination of International Tax Incentive programs and Equity Lenders, FBI produced the feature film and will also oversee distribution worldwide. Based on King’s novella, “Dolan’s Cadillac” is set in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The project stars Christian Slater and Wes Bentley. 

Also recently completed is “Butterfly Effect 3: Revelation” the third in the series of the popular cult classic. FBI is Executive Producer and International Sales Agent. The film will be released in theatres in the U.S. on January 9, 2009.

Beginning in Spring, 2009, U.K. Director Jon Amiel (“Entrapment,” “The Core,” “Sommersby”) is scheduled to begin the dark comedy, “Angel Makers,” to star Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Daniel Bruhl and Moritz Bleibtreu. Along with U.K. Producer, Jeanna Polley (“Laws of Attraction”) FBI is organizing the international funding and worldwide distribution for “Angel Makers.” 

At the Cannes Film Festival this year, Film Bridge International held the premiere screening of the Sci-Fi Action-Adventure “Freezer Burn – The Invasion of Laxdale.” The film stars Tom Green and Crispin Glover. FBI is worldwide distributor. 

In addition to its feature film business, FBI has worked as a consultant to the National Geographic Society for over thirteen years. The Company has worked with the Society’s television division to expand the international distribution of documentary programs throughout the world. Projects have focused on planning the Society’s short and long-term expansion into key territories. FBI has also participated in contract negotiation, marketing and promotion as well as the introduction of new programming for children.

Having established relationships with the most prestigious international multi-media distributors around the world, including Toho Towa and Shochiku in Japan, DeaPlaneta in Spain, Lusomundo in Portugal, TF1 in France, ZDF in Germany, Nordisk in Scandinavia, and Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures in Europe, FBI supervises the worldwide distribution of each of its films.

Before founding Film Bridge International, Ellen Wander was Senior Vice President of Turner Pictures Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting, for nearly six years. She is credited with having introduced Turner Broadcasting to the international theatrical and video distribution community. In that position, Ellen managed a staff of fifteen and arranged theatrical distribution in over 30 markets for Turner-produced feature films. She was responsible for the sales of “Tom and Jerry: The Movie,” Turner’s first feature film, in all international markets as well as in the United States and Canada.

Prior to Turner, Ellen was Vice President of Ancillary Distribution at RKO Pictures where she sold new RKO productions as well as library films to pay and basic cable television companies in North America. In addition, she was in charge of the RKO Home Video Operation.

Ellen began her career in the cable television industry and worked at the Walt Disney Company as National Accounts Manager on the introduction of The Disney Channel. Ellen also served on the Board of the American Film Marketing Association and has been involved in the organization’s Industry Relations Committee.

Ellen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the State University of New York and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Syracuse University.