New Zealand based producer Murray Francis has announced a major production financing deal with philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn

New Zealand based film producer Murray Francis (10,000 BC, The World’s Fastest Indian) has signed a multi-year, multi-picture production funding partnership with Monaco based philanthropist Sir Owen Glenn, it was announced today by Francis, CEO of Propaganda Film.

Glenn, a New Zealander based in Monaco with international interests around the globe, will hold a 50% stake in Propaganda Film. Under the far reaching partnership, Francis and Glenn have announced an initial slate of three highly commercial films that will be shot in New Zealand making them eligible for the New Zealand government’s 40% cash grant. Francis and Glenn will produce and finance the initial slate.

Propaganda Film is seeking production partners and handling sales for its films at the upcoming 2017 Cannes market.

The first film is the comedic crime caper Inside Dope based on Paul Thomas’ award winning novel of the same name. The screenplay is written by Thomas and Rene Le Bas, and will be directed by Michael Hurst (Starz! series “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” and “Ash vs Evil Dead”). Inside Dope follows an ex-undercover detective who takes it amongst himself to clean the streets of Auckland and finally imprison the city’s infamous drug czar.

You’ve Got the Cowboy tells the tale of “Cowboy” a small town radio DJ fighting to save his drought stricken rural area. He flies to Los Angeles to convince a major Country & Western singer to play a benefit concert to draw attention to the drought forcing farmers off their land. A fish out of water in a big metropolitan city, Cowboy faces rejection at every turn in his quest to find the star, all the while falling for the charms of an American corporate energy representative with a secret agenda. The romantic comedy will be directed by Josh Frizzell and is written by Norelle Scott.

The third project is the action adventure Ruptured Soul based on an incredible true story which will be filmed in Iraq, London, and New Zealand.  When a former Special Forces soldier seeks to rebuild his life in quiet New Zealand after a failed mission on the Syria/Iraq border, his past comes back to haunt him.

Francis launched Propaganda Film in 2016.  Prior to that move into independent production, Francis was part of the producing team on a number of films including Warner Bros. 10,000 B.C. directed by Roland Emmerich, Magnolia Pictures’ The World’s Fastest Indian starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, and Z for Zachariah starring Oscar nominated Chiwetel Ejiofor, Margot Robbie, and Chris Pine.

“Our partnership came about serendipitously when I discovered that Sir Owen funded the National Aquatic complex in Auckland that my son and I were visiting,” recounted Francis. “I reached out to him to express my admiration for his philanthropic work and he responded with interest in my film projects. After talking for hours about films, we found that we both share the same vision and desire to make great movies and our venture was born. I am simply grateful that someone of Sir Owen’s caliber believes in myself and my film slate. Sir Owen is one of the most prolific businessmen in the world and I can’t think of a better person to partner with. We envision this as the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration.”

“Movies have always been a passion of mine and I am excited to dive into this new role as a film producer,” commented Glenn. “With Murray’s expertise in film production, he is the perfect partner for our new business partnership and we look forward to creating exceptional films for audiences around the world.”

Sir Owen Glenn KNZM is a philanthropist with a lifelong passion for film. The New Zealander was born in India, grew up in Auckland and graduated from Harvard Business School before becoming an internationally recognized leader, and self-made multi-millionaire, in the logistics industry. Sir Glenn is widely admired for his business acumen and generosity through humanitarian causes. Sir Owen Glenn and The Glenn Family Foundation charitable organization is active in multiple territories across the globe. Amongst many other accolades, in 2008 Sir Owen Glenn was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to business and the community, and in 2013 he was promoted to Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy.