Manon Ardisson

Manon Ardisson, who got a BAFTA nod for God’s Own Country, set up Ardimages UK back in 2016. She’s not running this show alone, though—Chiara Ventura, who’s also got some solid awards under her belt (Romantic Comedy, anyone?), is her right hand in all of this. The company isn’t just churning out the same old stuff; their whole vibe is about shaking things up, spotlighting women-led stories, mixing up perspectives, and basically refusing to play it safe. They want films that actually say something, not just fill seats. By 2020, Ardimages UK had already grabbed a Vision Award, which is no small feat, and the BFI Film Fund’s backing them, too—which, trust me, is a pretty big deal in the indie film world. Even before that, Screen International saw their potential, listing them in the Brit 50 as one of the rising production companies to watch in the UK. So, yeah, they’re not flying under the radar anymore. Manon’s also got her hands in another cool project: the Mother Tongues Award. It’s basically a lifeline for UK filmmakers working in languages other than English—not something you see every day. The initiative’s got some real muscle behind it too, with support from Charades (sales agent), Curzon (UK distributor), and Intermission Film (creative agency). So, between all of that, Ardimages UK isn’t just making movies—they’re kind of re-writing the rules for what British cinema can be.