Russell Cunningham

reference Russell Cunningham? Oh, he’s been around the block, let’s just say that. Born in Yuma, raised on a steady diet of classic flicks and wild industry dreams, the guy basically lived and breathed cinema before he could drive. He kicked things off as an Associate Producer on The Wallace & Ladmo Show—yeah, the one that ran forever—then made the obvious leap: Hollywood. There, he didn’t just dip a toe in; he went full cannonball, learning everything from cinema management to wheeling and dealing with the big studios. Dude’s got stories. Then, outta nowhere, Australia called his name—so he packed up, switched gears, and started working with major publishing houses before landing at Hoyts Cinemas. But the lure of making movies pulled him back, so in ‘98, he launched RLC Motion Picture Entertainment. Suddenly, Russell’s the guy finding killer stories no one else would touch, turning them into films that actually make people pay attention. Remember Lennie Cahill Shoots Through? That was him. The man’s got more credits than a Marvel movie and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He’s got an eye for fresh talent—actors, crew, you name it—and he’s big on giving newcomers a shot. That’s probably why a bunch of his films ended up scoring both critical love and box office bucks. Oh, and in case you’re wondering: he’s tight with the Australian Cinema Pioneers, he’s got Rotary awards for charity work, and he still finds time to consult as a global strategist, running deals and digital deliveries for movies in over 40 countries. Basically, he’s one of those behind-the-scenes legends who just keeps raising the bar.