Encore’s Power 50 top man, Emile Sherman

Last February, Sherman became the first Australian producer to receive an Academy Award for Best Picture, alongside his See-Saw Films partner Iain Canning, and Bedlam Productions’ Gareth Unwin. It also won at the BAFTAs and the Producers Guild of America, in addition to the many other honours for its cast and crew.

While technically a UK production, the Australianness of the film is undeniable – and so is its success; with a modest U$15m budget, The King’s Speech has grossed more than $405m worldwide – one of the most successful independent films of all time.

Although See-Saw is becoming an increasingly international company, Sherman is not about to pack his things and pursue the Hollywood dream. He’s staying here, and he’s lobbying for a healthier industry; with his Oscar in hand, Sherman headed to Canberra to meet Julia Gillard at Parliament House. It wasn’t just a great photo opportunity; he pushed for the establishment of SPAA’s proposed Producer-Distributor Film Fund, telling the Prime Minister that, had the PDFF been in place when he was financing The King’s Speech, he would’ve accepted the Oscar for a film that was officially Australian as well as British.

Sherman’s other company, Fulcrum Media Finance, plays a vital role in cash-flowing the Producer Offset. Last year, it secured a $20m revolving fund through a facility with superannuation fund Media Super.