Tarak Ben Ammar

Tarak Ben Ammar(Arabic:طارق بن عمّار; born June 12, 1949) is a Tunisian-Frenchfilm produceranddistributor. He is famous for his interest in artistic movies, especially when they are related toMediterraneanculture or requireNorth Africanlocations.
Tarak Ben Ammar was born in 1949 inTunis, to a political family inTunisiawho fought for andgained independence from France in 1956, and where his uncleHabib Bourguibabecamethe first President of Tunisia.
After studies inRomeand graduating fromGeorgetown University in Washington, Tarak Ben Ammar started his career asfilm producer.
Tarak Ben Ammar forged a successful career as a film producer,working onGeorge Lucas'sStar Wars,Steven Spielberg'sRaiders of the Lost Ark,Franco Zeffirelli'sJesus of NazarethandLa Traviata,Monty Python's Life of Brian,Roman Polanski'sPirates,  andMel Gibson'sThe Passion of the Christ. He created the film industry in Tunisia by building the first film studios which have attracted 58 films.He produced all his films through French companies Carthago Films, andQuinta Communications.In 1984, French PresidentFrançois Mitterrandawarded him theLégion d'Honneurin recognition of his contribution to cinema.
Tarak Ben Ammar is also a businessman,he has served as an advisor toRupert Murdoch,Prince Al Waleed,Leo Kirch,Vincent BolloréandSilvio Berlusconiand has been board member of companies such asMediaset,Mediobanca,Telecom ItaliaandVivendi.He has also been Michael Jackson's manager from 1996 to 1998 and was the producer of his last worldwide tour, Michael Jackson’s HiStory Tour.In 2009, Tarak Ben Ammar officially launchedNessma, the first North African independent TV Channel which plays a key role in promoting freedom of speech and democracy in Tunisia.Nessma is also the leading channel inNorth Africa.
He  also controlsEagle Pictures,which is Italy’s number one independent film distribution and production company with a library of 3,500 films.
Tarak Ben Ammar also formed a USventurecalledSpyglass Media Group.Spyglassannounced a strategic partnership withWarner Brosand other important US partners,such asLionsgate Entertainment.In 2022, Tarak Ben Ammar acquired withLantern Entertainmentand his companyEagle Pictures,Studios de Paris,the largest movie studio in Paris.In 2023, his company Eagle Pictures has enlarged its strategic alliance withSony Picturesby becoming the exclusivedistributorofSony PicturesinItaly.Eagle Pictures is also the exclusive distributor ofParamount PicturesinItaly.In the same time, Tarak Ben Ammar withEagle Pictures, has announced the building of a newfilm studioinRome.Tarak Ben Ammar has built amedia companyoperating inFrance,Italy,Tunisia,UK, and in theUSA, it has partnerships with famousUS companiessuch asSony Pictures,Paramount Pictures,Warner Brosand Lionsgate.
Tarak Ben Ammar is the son ofMondher Ben Ammar, Tunisianlawyer,politiciananddiplomat, andCorsicanmotherSimone Gaggeri. He is the brother of writerHélé Béji. His auntWassila Ben Ammarwas theFirst Lady of Tunisiaas the wife of the firstPresident of Tunisia,Habib Bourguiba. Tarak Ben Ammar has a first son,Jad Ben Ammar,film producer, and three children from his marriage to Polish actressBeata(born Sonczuk), Neil, Tarak Jr. and his model-singer daughterSonia Ben Ammar (Sonia Ammar).