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Screen Star Producers Unveils New Production Company

Michelle Stein and Jennifer Monks of Moin Hussain’s Venice Critics’ Week entry Sky Peals launched a UK Production company The Fold. By: Talia

In 2009, Stein, also known as Michelle Eastwood, was honoured as a Screen Star of Tomorrow. Over the years, she has demonstrated her prowess as a producer, backing notable works such as Brian Welsh's award-winning film In Our Name in 2010, as well as Hussain's shorts Naptha and Real Gods Require Blood.

Monks, on the other hand, has recently taken on the role of co-producer for Charlotte Regan's prestigious Sundance premiere Scrapper and Naqqash Khalid's film In Camera, which was featured at the Karlovy Vary festival.

Operating under the ethos of creating exceptional and distinctive content, The Fold banner, led by the producers, has its base in Liverpool. They have the capacity to secure potential funding for projects from the Liverpool City Region Film & TV Fund. Prior to founding The Fold, the duo ran their individual companies, namely Escape Films and Pencil Trick Productions.

The Fold has seven feature films currently in various stages of development. Among these is Retreat directed by the talented filmmaker Ted Evans, who is deaf. This film, which originated from the iFeatures scheme in 2017, is set for a summer 2024 shoot. The storyline focuses on a drama within an all-deaf commune and heavily incorporates sign language.

The company's slate of feature projects includes works by acclaimed writer Deborah Davis, 2021 Screen Star of Tomorrow Genevieve Barr, Kara Smith, who has contributed to Netflix's Lockwood & Co., and author and playwright Rory Gleeson.

Branching into series production, The Fold is backed by the BBC's Small Indie Fund. Noteworthy projects in the works include Offcuts by comedy writer Andy Yerlett, Lily by playwright Lizzie Nunnery, and Toxic in collaboration with Gina Carter and Stephen Fry's Sprout Pictures, a co-production by Kefi Chadwick.

As part of their diverse role, Monks and Stein will serve as co-producers for UK and international productions seeking access to regional funding and production support.

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