People

Prescience Film Finance has a specialist management team that spans media banking, corporate finance, production, marketing, sales and distribution of quality commercial entertainment. Prescience has established an expertise in the independent film financing sector that provides it with a unique access to products and a business model that significantly reduces risk whether the investment is debt or equity.

Further details of Prescience Film Finance personnel can be found below:

Tim Smith

Prescience Film Finance’s Managing Director Tim Smith has worked in the marketing, financing, and production of filmed entertainment since the earliest days of video.Tim has over twenty years experience of the entertainment industry, spanning film, music and video, at companies ranging from Twentieth Century Fox where he was responsible for marketing and UK sales and distribution labels, to the independent film and video distributor, Medusa Communications. For well over a decade Tim owned and ran Foresight, one of the most successful entertainment agencies in Europe during the 1990's, representing such film clients as Walt Disney’s Buena Vista International, Warner Brothers and PolyGram. After selling Foresight to South Africa's Primedia group in the early 2000’s, Tim Smith worked as an independent producer and was joint Managing Director of UK producer/financier Random Harvest before establishing Prescience in 2005.

Paul Brett

Paul is a director of Prescience Film Finance and has worked in the media industry since leaving university 28 years ago. He has worked at Video Arts, (the world’s first audio/visual training company), Catalyst, (the world’s first audio-visual publishing company backed by Goldcrest), TEN – The Movie Channel (Britain’s first PAY TV company), Video Collection International, (the world’s first sell through label), Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios,and Pathé. Paul developed and implemented the UK exhibition and distribution strategy over a three year period at the British Film Institute/UK Film Council, leaving to found Prescience Film Finance with Tim Smith. At the BFI/UKFC, Paul was responsible for BFI's relationships with exhibitors throughout the UK and Northern Ireland, including both arthouse and commercial cinemas. Prior to this, he worked for Miramax International as Vice President of European Marketing, as well as Path/Guild, VCI and CIC (a joint venture between Paramount and Universal).

Jeff Hayward

Jeff is also a Director at Prescience Film Finance and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1985 with Touche Ross & Co (Deloitte and Touche). Post-qualification he spent several years working for Reuters plc in the Far East, based in Singapore before joining Chrysalis Group plc as Finance Director of Chrysalis Records (later EMI) until 1995. After a brief period in Books Etc. establishing mail order book clubs, Jeff joined Tim at Foresight Europe (see above) as Finance Director until the group was sold in 2001. He then spent six years working as an independent business adviser to a variety of charity and commercial organisations, before joining Prescience in 2007 as the Finance Director. 

James Swarbrick

James started his career at City stockbroker Teather & Greenwood before moving to Smith & Williamson Investment Management in December 2004. James has raised, structured and managed funds for over 30 productions including, Ladies in Lavender, Green Street and Irresistible. In addition, James has raised funds for a number of AIM, private equity, EIS and VCT transactions in a variety of industry sectors including retail, leisure, media, insurance and technology. James joined Prescience in June 2008 as Commercial Director.

Anne Sheehan

Anne Sheehan is a UK chartered accountant with specialist experience in film finance, production and distribution. As a consultant she has acted for a number of Film Fund clients including three prospective offshore film funds. She devised Visible Films; an EIS investment for Ecosse Films, Recorded Picture Company and Samuelson Productions. From 1999 to 2003 she was Director of Finance and Business Affairs at Renaissance Films. She began her film career as an international operational auditor for Warner Bros. and was a financial controller for Palace Pictures, BBC Films, PolyGram Film International and FilmFour. Anne is responsible for the financial assessment of new projects for the Aegis Film Fund. As Development Director she administers and advises Juno Development Capital LLP on behalf of Prescience Film Finance and is one of the team working on the development of future funds.

Isabel Chick

Isabel gained 13 years experience as a production accountant, firstly, with HTV and then with Thames Television in the features and documentaries departments in Euston. She then worked as a management accountant in the commercial and not for profit sectors. Isabel joined the finance department of Prescience in 2008 as Film Production Accountant to liaise with production companies and aid the production of management accounts and sales recoupment information.

Jane Burton

Jane has over 25 years of accounting experience; having worked in both the commercial sector and public practice. Jane joined Prescience Film Finance in 2008 as the Financial Accountant. She is responsible for the management accounts of the business and producing up to date financial information for all the Prescience companies, Prescience managed partnerships and funds. Jane is the main contact for suppliers as well as being responsible for company payroll, VAT, bank payments (both European and International) and other accounting functions for Prescience Film Finance.

Clare Kennedy

Clare previously worked in the recruitment sector for three years before joining Prescience Film Finance as Head of Administration in 2008. She is responsible for the office logistics, Health and Safety and Human Reasources of Prescience Film Finance. She provides all the administration and compliance support to the Prescience managed funds. Clare also works alongside the directors in other areas of the business including Production, Marketing, Investor Relations and is part of the new fund structuring team.

Jemma Sands

Jemma started her career in the industry, at HanWay Films; one of the leading Sales Agents in the UK. After spending five years working in Marketing at HanWay she joined Capitol Films in 2007; as their Marketing Manager. During her time at Hanway, Jemma worked on (amongst others), Bernardo Bertolucci's, 'The Dreamers,' Philip Noyce's 'Rabbit Proof Fence' and Woody Allen's 'Match Point' and at Capitol Films, John Maybury's 'The Edge of Love'. Jemma joined Prescience in June 2008 as the Film Marketing Manager. Jemma works on all aspects of film marketing at Prescience Film Finance, providing the investors with information on the current Prescience Film Finance slate, as well as being fully responsible for all the organisation of the Film Festivals which Prescience Film Finance attends. Jemma is now also the Film Marketing Manager for  Metropolis Internation Sales which is the sales arm for Prescience Film Finance.  

Elizabeth Blackledge

Elizabeth graduated from Durham University with a degree in English and History. She joined Prescience Film Finance in 2008 as a Commercial Manager assisting the Commercial Director with all aspects of fund raising and investor relations. She is also responsible for the marketing of Prescience Film Finance products to the commercial sector. Elizabeth is involved with various Prescience managed partnerships giving support to the Prescience directors in advising the partnerships. Furthering her role at Prescience Film Finance, Elizabeth works alongside the Commerical Director in a variety of other funds including the Aegis Film Fund

Anna Brazinova

Anna joined Prescience Film Finance in 2009 after moving to the UK four years earlier and working within the dental industry. As Office Executive, Anna assists the Head of Administration with all office related administration, office duties and takes responsibility for Fire Safety at Prescience Film Finace. She is responsible for all the administration needs of the Prescience Media Partnerships and works alongside the directors with a variety of the Prescience managed funds. Anna also assists the Financial Accountant with all the preparation of the company expenses and petty cash reconciliations on a monthly basis.