Peter Graham

Peter Graham’s pretty much a legend in the world of film financing—he’s been hustling in this space for more than three decades. Back in 2005, he teamed up with Stephen Hays to get 120dB Films off the ground, and they’ve been making moves ever since. Before that? The guy was killing it at the Lewis Horwitz Organization, which, if you know anything about indie film, is kind of a big deal. LHO specialized in getting those gritty, non-studio gigs the funding they needed. Rewind even further and you’ll find him at Union Bank of California, wheeling and dealing loans for indie productions in the ‘90s. Heck, he kicked things off at First Interstate Bank, picking up those entertainment financing chops that would basically define his career. He’s not just a numbers guy either—he knows his way around international film financing and distribution like it’s second nature. He’s also the dude you call if your company’s in debt trouble and needs some creative restructuring. Seriously, this man’s structured deals for both debt and equity that most people wouldn’t even dream up. He’s had his hands in financing over 350 movies and TV shows—think Monster, Jeepers Creepers, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Virgin Suicides, The English Patient. Yeah, those. He’s served on the I.F.T.A Board, helped steer the American Film Institute Festival, and pops up all the time on industry panels or teaching university classes. Basically, if you’re into indie film, chances are Peter Graham’s fingerprints are somewhere in the mix.