Haut et Court

Haut et Court
Name	Haut et Court
Type	Private
Industry	Film production
Founded	1990
Founder	Caroline Bonmarchand, Éric Altmayer
Headquarters	Paris, France
Key people	Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, Caroline Bonmarchand
Products	Motion pictures

Haut et Court

Haut et Court is a French independent film production and distribution company founded in 1990 in Paris. The company has produced and distributed films that have appeared at major festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, and Berlin International Film Festival, and has collaborated with directors who have worked with institutions like the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée and broadcasters such as Canal+ and Arte. Haut et Court's output spans feature films, short films, and television projects involving actors, writers, and composers who have connections to creators associated with Luc Besson, François Ozon, Agnès Varda, and Jacques Audiard.

History

Haut et Court was established in Paris by producers with previous ties to production entities linked to companies like Gaumont Film Company, Pathé, and independent producers who had collaborated with festivals including Locarno Festival and Sundance Film Festival. Early activities included producing shorts that screened at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and co-productions with partners from Belgium, United Kingdom, and Canada. Over the years the company engaged in international co-productions using treaties such as the French–Belgian film agreements and financing mechanisms involving bodies like the CNC and private financiers linked to European funds similar to those used by EuropaCorp and StudioCanal.

Film Production and Distribution

Haut et Court operates both as a producer and distributor, coordinating theatrical releases with distributors akin to UGC and Wild Bunch and negotiating broadcast windows for platforms comparable to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and European broadcasters including France Télévisions. Production workflows have included collaborations with cinematographers who worked on films by Claire Denis and editors who collaborated with Olivier Assayas and Arnaud Desplechin. The company has navigated festival circuits including screenings at Telluride Film Festival and award campaigns involving national awards like the César Awards and international prizes such as the Academy Awards.

Notable Films and Collaborations

Haut et Court produced films that brought together directors, actors, and writers connected to figures like Mathieu Amalric, Isabelle Huppert, Marion Cotillard, Juliette Binoche, and directors whose careers intersected with festivals like Sundance and institutions such as BFI. Collaborations extended to filmmakers whose work relates to auteurs such as Leos Carax, Claire Denis, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Michel Gondry, and composers who have worked with Alexandre Desplat and Carter Burwell. Films from the company have been programmed alongside works by Ken Loach, Pedro Almodóvar, Wong Kar-wai, and Bong Joon-ho in retrospective and competitive selections.

Key Personnel and Leadership

Leadership at Haut et Court has included producers and executives who liaised with talent agencies and sales agents operating in markets like Cannes Marche du Film and American Film Market. Key personnel collaborated with casting directors who placed actors from troupes associated with theatres such as the Comédie-Française and schools like Conservatoire de Paris. Management relationships extended to financiers and partners with backgrounds linked to corporate entities reminiscent of Vivendi and investment groups that support European audiovisual production.

Awards and Recognition

Films produced or distributed by Haut et Court have received nominations and prizes at festivals and award ceremonies such as the Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or competition, the Venice Film Festival Golden Lion lineup, the Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear entries, and national accolades including the César Awards and Lumières Award. Recognition has put company titles in contention for international honors such as the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and festival prizes granted at events like Rotterdam International Film Festival and San Sebastián International Film Festival.

Business Structure and Subsidiaries

Haut et Court's business model combines production slates, distribution arms, and co-production treaties with partners across Europe and North America; this involves contractual relationships with sales agents and distributors operating in territories alongside companies similar to Pathe', StudioCanal, and global streamers like Hulu and Apple TV+. Subsidiary activities have included short-film distribution networks and boutique labels that curate retrospectives alongside institutions such as the Institut Lumière and cultural programs presented at venues like the Cinémathèque Française.

Category:Film production companies of France Category:Companies based in Paris