# Gillian Berrie

Gillian Berrie is a Scottish film producer and co-founder of the Glasgow-based production company Sigma Films with director David Mackenzie.
Berrie set up Film City Glasgow, creative cluster for production, picture and sound which spearheads independent production in Scotland. She also set up Jumpcut project which aimed to give young and underprivileged people access to working in the film industry through a pop-up film school that created an intensive, mentor-lead fast track into the industry. This was followed by Sharp Shorts which has produced 9 short films in 2020/21, with another nine to follow.

## Career

When starting out, Berrie worked on numerous no budget / low budget productions in many different capacities. Alongside David Mackenzie, she wrote and produced California Sunshine (1997) and Somersault (2000), both multi-award-winning shorts. She then went on to work in production on Ken Loach's Carla's Song (1996) and Peter Mullan's Orphans (1998) and as a casting director on Ken Loach's My Name is Joe (1998) and Lynne Ramsay's Ratcatcher (1999).
Berrie then embarked on developing and producing numerous feature projects, beginning with David Mackenzie's The Last Great Wilderness (2002) which was co-produced by Zentropa and premiered in Toronto in 2002.
Over the next two years Berrie received producer credits on 3 films including Lone Scherfig's Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002), Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003) and David Mackenzie's Young Adam (2003).
In 2004, Berrie co-produced Shona Auerbach's Dear Frankie starring Emily Mortimer and Gerard Butler. It premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and competed in Un Certain Regard at Cannes.
Berrie continued the relationship with Zentropa by co-producing Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002), Brothers (2004), Dear Wendy (2004), Manderlay (2005) and After the Wedding (2006). This collaboration has received numerous plaudits from critics with awards and recognition from all over the world including BAFTA, Cannes Film Festival and the Academy Awards.
Together with Zentropa's Sisse Graum Jorgensen, Berrie developed the Advance Party Project which was designed to give directors their first break at feature film level. It produced Andrea Arnold's Cannes-Jury-Prize-winning debut Red Road (2006) and Morag McKinnon's BAFTA-Scotland-winning Donkeys (2010).
Berrie and Mackenzie's second feature film collaboration was Hallam Foe (2007), starring Jamie Bell and Sophia Myles. It won many awards including a Silver Bear in Berlin 2007, the Golden Hitchcock and Kodak Award at the Dinard Festival of British Cinema 2007, and the 2008 National Board of Review Award for Top Independent Film, as well as numerous other nominations including for Bell and Myles' performances.
Berrie and Zentropa]collaborated again to make David Mackenzie's sixth feature film, sci-fi romance Perfect Sense (2011) with Ewan McGregor and Eva Green. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and picked up numerous awards at film festivals around the world including Edinburgh, Bratislava and Philadelphia.
Immediately afterwards Berrie produced the Mackenzie directed comedy musical You Instead (2011) [released as Tonight You're Mine in the US]. It was filmed over four and a half days at the Scottish music festival T in the Park in 2010 where the cast and crew had to adopt a kind of guerrilla filmmaking approach to shoot amidst the chaos of a music festival alongside over 100,000 revellers. It sold to numerous territories throughout the world and premiered at both T in the Park in 2011 and at Austin's SXSW.
Next, Berrie produced Mackenzie's Starred Up (2013), starring Jack O'Connell, Ben Mendelsohn and Rupert Friend. The story is based on writer Jonathan Asser's real-life experiences as a voluntary therapist in a London prison. The film was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards including the BAFTA Scotland 2014 Best Film and Best Director Awards, seven BIFA nominations and holds a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score.
Berrie also co-produced Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin (2013) starring Scarlett Johansson. It had its World Premiere at Telluride at the same time as Starred Up, then played Venice Film Festival and has since picked up over 20 awards and 90 nominations internationally.
In late 2016, Berrie EP'd on TV pilot Damnation for the USA Network, directed by Mackenzie. Described as an epic saga of the secret history of the 1930s American heartland, it chronicles the mythic conflict and bloody struggle between big money and the downtrodden, God and greed, charlatans and prophets. In May 2017, Damnation was picked up to series by the USA Network and has been released by Netflix outside of the US.
In 2017, Berrie began production on David Mackenzie's tenth feature, Outlaw King. The film stars Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson playing James Douglas, Florence Pugh playing Elizabeth de Burgh and Billy Howle as Edward, the Prince of Wales. Sigma Films produced the historical epic which was released internationally by Netflix on November 9, 2018.
In 2002, Berrie received the BAFTA Scotland Outstanding Contribution Award for her achievements in the Scottish film industry.
In 2014, Berrie received an honorary doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland for her contribution to film, culture and the arts.
2020 saw Berrie's Film City Futures at the centre of a new £1m talent development programme in partnership with Screen Scotland and The British Film Institute (BFI). The programme, Short Circuit, develops and provides opportunities for new and emerging writers, directors and producers from across Scotland. As well as producing up to 18 short films it will develop 10 feature-length scripts over two years, from 2020-22.
Berrie wrapped Tetris, a feature film for Apple directed by Jon Baird and starring Taron Edgerton, in March 2021.

## Filmography

| Film | Year | Director | Role |
| Carla's Song | 1996 | Ken Loach | Production Assistant |
| California Sunshine | 1997 | David Mackenzie | Producer, Writer |
| My Name is Joe | 1998 | Ken Loach | Casting Director |
| Orphans | 1998 | Peter Mullan | Production Coordinator |
| Ratcatcher | 1999 | Lynne Ramsay | Casting Director |
| Somersault | 2000 | David Mackenzie | Producer, Writer |
| The Last Great Wilderness | 2002 | David Mackenzie | Producer, Writer |
| Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | 2002 | Lone Scherfig | Co-Producer |
| Song for a Raggy Boy | 2003 | Aisling Walsh | Co-Producer |
| The Inheritance | 2003 | Per Fly | Co-Producer |
| Young Adam | 2003 | David Mackenzie | Associate Producer |
| Dogville | 2003 | Lars von Trier | Co-Producer |
| Brothers | 2004 | Susanne Bier | Co-Producer |
| Dear Frankie | 2004 | Shona Auerbach | Co-Producer |
| Dear Wendy | 2004 | Thomas Vinterburg | Co-Producer |
| Drabnet | 2005 | Per Fly | Co-Producer |
| Zozo | 2005 | Josef Fares | Co-Producer |
| Manderlay | 2005 | Lars von Trier | Co-Producer |
| The Judge | 2005 | Gert Fredholm | Co-Producer |
| 1:1 | 2006 | Annette K. Olesen | Co-Producer |
| We Shall Overcome | 2006 | Niels Arden Oplev | Co-Producer |
| When Children Play in the Sky | 2006 | Lorenzo Hendel | Producer |
| Red Road | 2006 | Andrea Arnold | Executive Producer |
| After the Wedding | 2006 | Susanne Bier | Co-Producer |
| Dog Altogether | 2007 | Paddy Considine | Executive Producer |
| Hallam Foe | 2007 | David Mackenzie | Producer |
| I Love Luci | 2010 | Colin Kennedy | Executive Producer |
| Donkeys | 2010 | Morag MacKinnon | Producer |
| Perfect Sense | 2011 | David Mackenzie | Producer |
| You Instead | 2011 | David Mackenzie | Producer |
| A Royal Affair | 2012 | Nikolaj Arcel | Co-Producer |
| Citadel | 2012 | Ciaran Foy | Executive Producer |
| Seaview | 2013 | Jane Linfoot | Executive Producer |
| Under the Skin | 2013 | Jonathan Glazer | Co-Producer |
| Starred Up | 2013 | David Mackenzie | Producer |
| Good Souls | 2014 | Elizabeth Randon | Executive Producer |
| Dropping Off Michael | 2015 | Zam Salim | Executive Producer |
| Swung | 2015 | Colin Kennedy | Executive Producer |
| Misgivings | 2016 | Adrian Meade | Executive Producer |
| Ending | 2017 | James Lees | Executive Producer |
| Hush | 2017 | Olaf de Fleur Johannesson | Executive Producer |
| Damnation | 2017 | David Mackenzie | Executive Producer |
| Outlaw King | 2018 | David Mackenzie | Producer |
| Tetris (film) | 2020 | Jon S. Baird | Executive Producer |

## Awards
### Academy Awards

| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 2007 | After the Wedding | Best Foreign Language Film of the Year | Nominated |
| 2013 | A Royal Affair | Best Foreign Language Film of the Year | Nominated |

### BAFTA Awards

| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 2005 | Dear Frankie | Most Promising Newcomer (Shona Auerbach) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Red Road | Most Promising Newcomer (Andrea Arnold) | Won |
| 2008 | Dog Altogether | Best Short Film | Won |
| 2013 | Seaview | Best Short Film | Nominated |
| 2015 | Under the Skin | Best British Film | Nominated |
| 2015 | Under the Skin | Best Original Music (Mica Levi) | Nominated |

### BAFTA Scotland Awards

| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 1997 | California Sunshine | Best Short Film | Nominated |
| 2002 | | Outstanding Achievement Award | Win |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Film | Win |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Win |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Actor in a Scottish Film (Ewan McGregor) | Win |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Actress in a Scottish Film (Tilda Swinton) | Win |
| 2004 | Dear Frankie | Best Director (Shona Auerbach) | Nominated |
| 2004 | Dear Frankie | Best First Time Performance (Jack McElhone) | Nominated |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Film | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Director (Andrea Arnold) | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Actor in a Scottish Film (Tony Curran) | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Actress in a Scottish Film (Kate Dickie) | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Screenplay (Andrea Arnold) | Win |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Film | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Screenplay | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Actor (Jamie Bell) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Actress (Sophia Myles) | Win |
| 2011 | Donkeys | Best Feature Film | Win |
| 2011 | Donkeys | Best Director (Morag McKinnon) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Donkeys | Best Writer (Colin McLaren) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Donkeys | Best Actor/Actress - Film (James Cosmo) | Win |
| 2011 | Donkeys | Best Actor/Actress - Film (Brian Pettifer) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Donkeys | Audience Award - Favourite Scottish Film | Nominated |
| 2011 | Perfect Sense | Best Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2011 | Perfect Sense | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2011 | Perfect Sense | Audience Award - Favourite Scottish Film | Nominated |
| 2011 | You Instead | Audience Award - Favourite Scottish Film | Nominated |
| 2011 | I Love Luci | Best Short Film | Win |
| 2012 | Citadel | Best Feature Film | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Feature Film | Win |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Directing in Film or TV | Win |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Actor - Film (Jack O'Connell) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Swung | Best Actress - Film (Elena Anaya) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Swung | Best Actress - Film (Elizabeth McGovern) | Nominated |
| 2015 | Dropping Off Michael | Best Short Film | Nominated |

### Berlin International Film Festival

| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas | Win |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Silver Berlin Bear - Best Film Music | Win |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Golden Berlin Bear | Nominated |
| 2012 | A Royal Affair | Silver Berlin Bear - Best Actor (Mikel Boe Folsgaard) | Win |
| 2012 | A Royal Affair | Silver Berlin Bear - Best Screenplay (Nikolaj Arcel & Rasmus Heisterberg) | Win |
| 2012 | A Royal Affair | Golden Berlin Bear | Nominated |

### British Independent Film Awards

| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Actor (Ewan McGregor) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Best Actress (Tilda Swinton) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | Most Promising Newcomer (Jamie Sives) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | Best Screenplay (Anders Thomas Jensen & Lone Scherfig) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Shirley Henderson) | Nominated |
| 2003 | Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Adrian Rawlins) | Nominated |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Actor (Tony Curran) | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Actress (Kate Dickie) | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Best Supporting Actor/Actress (Martin Compston) | Nominated |
| 2006 | Red Road | Douglas Hickox Award (Andrea Arnold) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Screenplay (David Mackenzie & Ed Whitmore) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Technical Achievement (David Mackenzie & Colin Monie for Music) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Actor (Jamie Bell) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Hallam Foe | Best Actress (Sophia Myles) | Nominated |
| 2007 | Dog Altogether | Best British Short | Win |
| 2011 | You Instead | Best Achievement in Production | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best British Independent Film | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Director (David Mackenzie) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Screenplay (Jonathan Asser) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Achievement in Production | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Technical Achievement (Shaheen Baig for Casting) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Actor (Jack O'Connell) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Supporting Actor (Ben Mendelsohn) | Win |
| 2013 | Starred Up | Best Supporting Actor (Rupert Friend) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Under the Skin | Best Director (Jonathan Glazer) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Under the Skin | Best Technical Achievement (Johnnie Burn for Sound Design) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Under the Skin | Best Technical Achievement (Mica Levi for Music) | Nominated |
| 2013 | Under the Skin | Best Actress (Scarlett Johansson) | Nominated |

### Cannes Film Festival

| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
| 2003 | Young Adam | Un Certain Regard | Nominated |
| 2003 | Dogville | Palme d'Or | Nominated |
| 2005 | Manderlay | Palme d'Or | Nominated |
| 2006 | Red Road | Jury Prize | Win |
| 2006 | Red Road | Palme d'Or | Nominated |