47-407: Regency Enterprises (stylized as R E G E N C Y ) is an American-British-Luxembourgish entertainment company formed by Arnon Milchan . It was founded in 1982 as the successor to Regency International Pictures (formerly known as Embassy International Pictures N.V. ). Arnon Milchan founded his company as Embassy International Pictures N.V., which held the name for seven years until it
94-686: A net worth estimated at $ 5.1 billion as of 2015 . Milchan has produced over 130 films, such as Noah (2014), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Once Upon a Time in America (1984) (in which he also makes a cameo appearance as the chauffeur ), Brazil (1985), Pretty Woman (1990), JFK (1991), Under Siege (1992), Natural Born Killers (1994), Boys on the Side (1995), Heat (1995), L.A. Confidential (1997), Fight Club (1999), Unfaithful (2002), Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005), and Knight and Day (2010), among others, to his credit. He
141-507: A 15-year distribution pact with 20th Century Fox worldwide in all media with the exception of foreign television rights, ending a previous association with Warner Bros. (1991–1999). Fox's then-parent company News Corporation funneled $ 200 million in New Regency, in exchange for a 20% stake in the company. On January 17, 2011, Fox and New Regency extended the pact, to expire in 2022. On May 21, 2008, they hired Hutch Parker as co-chairman of
188-421: A Time in America and Q&A , but was shut down in 1991. On January 15, 1991, Milchan and Regency, as well as Scriba & Deyle of Germany and Canal+ of France, formed a $ 600 million joint venture to finance 20 films in five years, all of which were to be distributed by Warner Bros. Arnon Milchan rebranded Regency International Pictures to Regency Enterprises. A subsidiary company, New Regency Productions ,
235-476: A bid from Comcast (parent company of NBCUniversal ) for $ 65 billion, Disney counterbid with $ 71.3 billion. On July 19, 2018, Comcast dropped out of the bid for 21st Century Fox in favor of Sky plc and Sky UK . Eight days later, Disney and 21CF shareholders approved the merger between the two companies. On March 12, 2019, Disney announced it has set to close the Fox deal on March 20. On March 19, 2019, 21CF spun off
282-548: A competitor to companies like New Line Cinema 's Fine Line Features , a "specialty features" division. On March 24, 1999, New Regency executive David Matalon joined the supervisory board of Puma AG, an international sports company. At the time, Regency was the largest single shareholder in Puma, with more than a 25% stake. Arnon Milchan also owned Puma stock, which he later sold for $ 676 million in May 2003. On September 9, 1997, Milchan signed
329-744: A deal with EMJAG Digital Production and Shine America to create and distribute digital content. Under the deal with EMJAG Digital Productions, New Regency along with Shine America will co-produce and co-finance select digital products under a first-look deal with EMJAG's previous deal with Paramount being transferred to New Regency and Shine America. In January 2019, New Regency re-formed its international sales team to take back control of its international television licensing activities. The Walt Disney Company inherited Fox's stake in Regency Enterprises and New Regency Productions after Disney acquired 21st Century Fox's assets on March 20, 2019. Following
376-567: A private event. Portions of Milchan's interrogation by the Israeli police were covered in the 2024 political documentary The Bibi Files . On June 25, 2023, Milchan began his first day of testimony as a prosecution witness in Case 1000 and acknowledged that he gave the Netanyahu family numerous gifts and used code names for the gifts which were exchanged as well. However, Milchan also claimed he never thought
423-704: A production budget of only $ 15 million. Searchlight Pictures was one of the 21st Century Fox film production units that was acquired by Disney in 2019. The studio's current name was adopted in order to avoid confusion with Fox Corporation . Searchlight is currently one of five live-action film studios within the Walt Disney Studios, alongside Walt Disney Pictures , Marvel Studios , Lucasfilm , and its larger sister unit 20th Century Studios . Compared to 20th Century, whose distribution operations have folded into Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures , Searchlight retains its autonomous distribution unit. Prior to
470-449: A return to the television business after 20th Century Fox extended its distribution business with Regency until 2022. Since New Regency re-formed its international sales team to take back control of its international television licensing activities in January 2019, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution now handles domestic television rights to 1984's Once Upon a Time in America and
517-462: A secret intelligence organization tasked with obtaining military technology and science espionage. Milchan acknowledged that he was a secret arms dealer for the Israeli government and claimed to have used his connections to promote the apartheid regime in South Africa in exchange for it helping Israel to acquire uranium for its nuclear program . In June 2023, Milchan provided some details about
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#1733094223016564-655: Is a professional photographer and Alexandra is a film producer. He later married South African retired professional tennis player Amanda Coetzer and had two children with her (Shimon and Olivia). Allegedly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry three times in 2014 to arrange a long-term visa for Milchan to live in the United States, but the bribery charges against Netanyahu have since been called into question. Milchan does not live in Israel and has not been there since 2016. Milchan
611-646: Is a special man. It was I who recruited him.... When I was at the Ministry of Defense, Arnon was involved in numerous defense-related procurement activities and intelligence operations. His strength is in making connections at the highest levels.... His activities gave us a huge advantage, strategically, diplomatically and technologically." (interview dated February 8, 2010, documented in Meir Doron and Joseph Gelman's "Confidential: Secret Agent turned Hollywood Tycoon Arnon Milchan" p. xi). Two years later, on November 25, 2013, on
658-482: Is an American independent film production and distribution company owned by Walt Disney Studios sub-division of Disney Entertainment , a business segment of the Walt Disney Company . Founded in 1994 as Fox Searchlight Pictures for 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios ), the studio focuses primarily on producing, distributing, and acquiring specialty films . Searchlight is known for distributing
705-572: Is an art collector, and in April 2015, CNBC ranked him at No. 3 in their list of "Hollywood's top 10 art collectors" with a collection valued at $ 600 million, equal with George Lucas , ranked No. 2, but some way behind David Geffen at No. 1, with a collection valued at $ 2.3 billion. Executive producer Producer Producer Executive producer Miscellaneous crew Actor Special thanks Executive producer Producer Fox Searchlight Pictures Searchlight Pictures, Inc.
752-525: Is the television production division of Searchlight Pictures. Launched in April 2018, Searchlight Television broadens the variety of projects produced under the Searchlight banner. It is headed by David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield. Both original material and adaptations of Searchlight's existing film library will be produced for cable, streaming and broadcast television, in the form of documentaries, scripted series, limited series and more. In April 2019,
799-533: The Academy Award for Best Picture , for L.A. Confidential and The Revenant ; he also produced Best Picture nominees The Big Short , 12 Years a Slave , and Birdman , with the latter two winning the award in consecutive years. Milchan was also an Israeli intelligence operative from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s. As of January 2024, Forbes estimated Milchan's net worth at US$ 3.3 billion, ranked 937th worldwide and 13th wealthiest in Israel. Milchan
846-541: The Channel 2 documentary program Uvda , Milchan confirmed on camera the central claims in the book Confidential that had been released earlier. The announcement caused international interest in the story and was covered widely. Peres, the architect of Israel's secret nuclear weapons program in the 1960s, stated that in the 1960s he recruited Milchan to work for the Israeli Bureau of Scientific Relations (LEKEM or LAKAM),
893-545: The Hulu streaming service ordered The Dropout , starring Amanda Seyfried from Searchlight Television and 20th Television . The studio is also developing an adaptation of the City of Ghosts novel with ABC Signature and an adaptation of N. K. Jemisin 's Inheritance Trilogy with Westbrook Studios . In October 2021, Hulu ordered a sequel series to the Mel Brooks film History of
940-403: The 1991–1999 Regency Enterprises library (except 1993's Six Degrees of Separation ). New Regency Television International launched at the start of 2019. Based out of London and drawing from New Regency's long-established relationships with the best writing, directing and producing talent, the division is focused on developing and producing high-end, authored and distinctive scripted content for
987-498: The 20th Century Fox fanfare composed by Alfred Newman . From its first release, The Brothers McMullen (1995), Fox Searchlight went to distribute a series of independent films such as Girl 6 , Stealing Beauty , and She's the One (all 1996). While critically well received, these early releases were not commercially very successful; Fox Searchlight's first real commercial breakthrough came with The Full Monty (1997), garnering
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#17330942230161034-601: The 21CF name was a way to maintain 20th Century Fox's heritage. Fox Stage Productions was formed in June 2013. The creation of 21st Century Fox was completed on June 28, 2013. In August 2013, 20CF started a theatrical joint venture with a trio of producers, both film and theater, Kevin McCollum , John Davis and Tom McGrath. On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company agreed to acquire most assets from 21st Century Fox, including Fox Searchlight, for $ 52.4 billion. After
1081-562: The Spiders from Mars . In the early 1990s, 20th Century Fox executives decided to emulate the commercial success of Disney's newly acquired Miramax studio. In 1994, 20th announced the formation of a subsidiary that would drive their entry into the specialty film market, and in July that year, they brought in Thomas Rothman , then president of production at The Samuel Goldwyn Company , to head up
1128-495: The United States and Canada. He is also a part owner of Israel's TV Channel 10 , and a former owner of Puma, the international sportswear line. Speculation about Milchan's involvement in arms dealing and intelligence activities was sparked after the indictment in 1985 of Dr. Richard Kelly Smyth , an aerospace executive and scientist who had made illegal shipments of Krytrons , which could be used as nuclear weapon triggers, through one of Milchan's companies. This remained largely in
1175-452: The World, Part I from Searchlight Television and 20th Television. In March 2019, the studio launched Searchlight Shorts , a collection of short films that the studio would acquire from upper-tier festivals and release on their YouTube channel. The first two films to be acquired by the studio for this collection were Shelly Lauman's Birdie and Guy Nattiv 's Skin , the latter of which won
1222-698: The acquisition, 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures became divisions of Walt Disney Studios and were renamed 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures, respectively, on January 17, 2020, with distribution of films by Regency Enterprises transferred to Disney, in exchange for a 20% stake in the parent company. On December 13, 2021, New Regency renewed their global distribution deal with Disney. This includes Disney's handling of global theatrical distribution, home entertainment, and first pay rights for New Regency. New Regency's sales team, led by Charlotte Thorp and primarily based out of London , United Kingdom will handle all other television and SVOD rights after
1269-575: The category of rumor until biographers Meir Doron and Joseph Gelman wrote a controversial unauthorized biography of Milchan that was published in July 2011. The biography Confidential , which is largely sympathetic to Milchan, revealed in detail how he involved himself in espionage, big-ticket arms-dealing, and obtaining sensitive technology and materials for Israel's nuclear weapons program . The research in Confidential – The Life Of Secret Agent Turned Hollywood Tycoon established that "at least through
1316-471: The creation of Searchlight Pictures, 20th Century Fox was active in the specialty film market, releasing independent and specialty films under the banner of 20th Century-Fox International Classics , later renamed 20th Century-Fox Specialized Film Division , then TLC Films . The most notable of the releases under these banners include Suspiria , Bill Cosby: Himself , Eating Raoul , The Gods Must Be Crazy , Reuben, Reuben , and Ziggy Stardust and
1363-431: The films Slumdog Millionaire , 12 Years a Slave , Birdman , The Shape of Water , and Nomadland , all of which have won an Academy Award for Best Picture . The studio has grossed over $ 5.3 billion worldwide and amassed 51 Academy Awards , 30 Golden Globe Awards , and 56 BAFTA awards . Slumdog Millionaire is the studio's largest commercial success, with over $ 377 million (US) of box office receipts, against
1410-655: The first pay window as well as other business development. New Regency Television International (formerly known as Regency Television ) is a joint venture between Regency Enterprises and Fox Television Studios founded in 1998. Regency's best-known television shows include The WB / UPN sci-fi drama Roswell and the Fox sitcoms Malcolm in the Middle and The Bernie Mac Show . On July 17, 2007, Regency Television shut down all production and closed its business after nine years in operation. On January 17, 2011, New Regency announced
1457-666: The friendship he developed with future Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his time as an intelligence officer, with the two having gone from being simple acquaintances to knowing each other "like brothers." In February 2018, Israeli Police recommended that Arnon Milchan, alongside Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , be charged with bribery. The recommendation in the case, nicknamed "Case 1000", relates to alleged bribes Milchan provided to Netanyahu in exchange for special tax exemption legislation believed to benefit Milchan in his homeland of Israel. The proposed legislation, nicknamed "Milchan's Law", dates back to 2013 and
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1504-607: The gifts would qualify as legal issues, as they were requests which were related to his friendship with the Netanyahus and not demands. Due to his health, Milchan did not appear in-person at the Jerusalem courthouse and gave video testimony from a courthouse in Brighton, United Kingdom . Milchan was first married to French model Brigitte Genmaire and later divorced. The couple had three children, Elinor, Alexandra , and Yariv. Elinor Milchan
1551-469: The international marketplace. Arnon Milchan Arnon Milchan ( Hebrew : ארנון מילצ'ן ; December 6, 1944) is an Israeli billionaire businessman, film producer and former spy. He has been involved in over 130 full-length motion pictures and is the founder of production company Regency Enterprises . Regency's film credits include 12 Years a Slave , JFK , Heat , Fight Club , and Mr. & Mrs. Smith . Milchan has earned two nominations for
1598-476: The mid-1980s [Milchan] was a full-fledged operative for Israel's top-secret intelligence agency, Lekem . His activities included "buying components to build and maintain Israel's nuclear arsenal" and supervising "government-backed accounts and front companies that financed the special needs of the entirety of Israel's intelligence operations outside the country". Interviewed regarding Milchan's intelligence activities, Israeli President Shimon Peres stated: "Arnon
1645-760: The movie business in 1977, after an introduction to American producer Elliot Kastner . In 1981 he partnered with Sydney Pollack on the US miniseries Masada Most notable among Milchan's film collaborations was his early work with Martin Scorsese . He developed close friendships with Robert De Niro , and directors Roman Polanski , Sergio Leone , Terry Gilliam and Oliver Stone . Milchan started his own production company in 1991 called New Regency Productions . Through his company Regency, in partnership with Warner Bros. , and later with Rupert Murdoch at 20th Century Fox , and other business ventures, such as Puma AG , Milchan acquired
1692-407: The new subsidiary. It was soon given the name "Fox Searchlight Pictures", with Rothman as its founding president. The new company inherited the familiar branding elements associated with 20th Century Fox; Fox Searchlight films opened with a production logo consisting of the "Fox Searchlight Pictures" name presented as a large monolith, illuminated by the eponymous searchlights and accompanied by
1739-776: The remaining assets – the Fox Broadcasting Company , Fox Television Stations , the Fox News Group (which includes the Fox News Channel ), and the domestic operations of Fox Sports – to the new Fox Corporation in preparation for the completion of the sale, which occurred the following day. The following day it was announced that Fox Searchlight Pictures would be situated under The Walt Disney Studios banner and several high profile layoffs occurred. As of November 2019, FX Networks and Fox Searchlight were assigned to supply Hulu with content. On January 17, 2020, it
1786-525: The studio's first awards. In 2006, a companion label, Fox Atomic , was created to produce and/or distribute genre films. Fox Atomic closed down in 2009. On June 28, 2012, Rupert Murdoch announced that Fox Searchlight's owner News Corporation would be split into two publishing and media oriented companies: the second News Corporation , which takes on the publishing and Australian broadcasting assets, and 21st Century Fox , which operated Fox Searchlight parent Fox Entertainment Group . Murdoch states that
1833-434: The studio. He would eventually left the post on January 11, 2012. In July of that same year New Regency announced that they launched a film production joint venture with British-based entertainment production company Shine Group to launch Shine Pictures with the former's Hutch Parker & Bob Harper joining the new subsidiary along with Shine Group's CEO Elizabeth Murdoch. In June 2012, New Regency announced that they formed
1880-470: The then-current heads of production. Since 1994, Searchlight Pictures has accumulated 187 Academy Award nominations with 51 wins (including five Best Picture winners since 2009), 117 Golden Globe nominations with 30 wins, 190 BAFTA nominations with 56 wins, 68 Screen Actors Guild Award nominations with 12 wins, 215 Critics Choice Award nominations with 55 wins, and 137 Independent Spirit Awards nominations with 54 wins. Searchlight Television
1927-462: The years, Milchan turned the company into a successful chemical business. He also earned a degree from the London School of Economics , before he and his company (Milchan Brothers Ltd.) were recruited to Lekem , a secret Israeli intelligence organization responsible for obtaining technology and material for Israel's nuclear program , and other highly secretive programs. Milchan became involved in
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1974-483: Was a producer on two more recent Oscar-winners for Best Picture, 12 Years a Slave in 2014 and Birdman in 2015, but he was not listed as a producer in the nominees list. Milchan is also the owner of the WTA broadcasting rights. He was married to model Brigitte Genmaire. He is now married to former South African tennis professional Amanda Coetzer . He is owner of the network which transmits Israeli television programming to
2021-579: Was also created. Formerly with offices on the Warner Bros. lot, New Regency is currently located on the 20th Century Studios lot. New Regency primarily produces movies, and has at least 100 movies to its credit. New Regency produced 2013's 12 Years a Slave , 2014's Birdman , and 2015's The Revenant , which earned the company two Academy Awards for Best Picture in a row, and three nominations. Founder Arnon Milchan's daughter Alexandra Milchan headed their offshoot "Regency Vision", originally intended as
2068-512: Was an alleged ploy to extend Milchan's status as a returning resident to allow him to take advantage of tax breaks. According to the police, the gifts from Milchan were worth more than 1 million shekels . Milchan had held fundraisers for Netanyahu, which included a 2014 event at a residence on Carbon Beach in Malibu that controversially inconvenienced residents and commuters with hours of unexpected lane blockages on Pacific Coast Highway , despite being
2115-527: Was announced that the "Fox" name would be dropped from several of the Fox assets that were acquired by Disney, shortening the company's name to "Searchlight Pictures", in order to avoid brand confusion with Fox Corporation. More recently, Nancy Utley has officially left Searchlight Pictures after six months, to launch Lake Ellyn Entertainment, and struck a first look deal with Chernin Entertainment . Disney elevated David Greenbaum and Matthew Greenfield ,
2162-474: Was born in Rehovot , Mandatory Palestine , to a Jewish family. He has a sister named Dalia. His mother was descended from European Jewish disciples of the rabbi Vilna Gaon who came to the region of Palestine in the early 19th century, and he is the eighth generation of his family in the country. His father owned a fertilizer company, which Milchan inherited at the age of 21 upon his father's sudden death. Over
2209-468: Was changed to Regency International Pictures. This company originally had no distribution deal of producing films with various studios such as The Ladd Company , Columbia Pictures , TriStar Pictures , Warner Bros. , Touchstone Pictures , Vestron Pictures , Universal Pictures and 20th Century Fox (now known as 20th Century Studios), with the latter ending up being the distributor of the majority of Regency's library. It produced films such as Once Upon
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