Wild Bunch co-founders are saying goodbye to the iconic moniker … but have yet to confirm the new name

Wild Bunch co-founders Vincent Maraval and Brahim Chioua parted ways with the iconic company name, which they came up with in 2002 at a signature rebel party in Paris themed “Forever Wild, Whatever the Name!” Thursday night, but have yet to confirm their new name.

During Unifrance’s meeting in Paris, local and international staff flocked to the Annette K boat on the banks of the Seine for the event, which featured a tribute to Celine Dion and a set by DJ Kiddy Smile, who featured in Gaspar Noé’s performances included, included Climax.

The loss of name is the latest step in the withdrawal of the pan-European film group Wild Bunch AG, which was formed in 2015 from the merger of its original French company Wild Bunch and Germany’s Senator and is now owned by a German entrepreneur. Lars Windhorst.

Maraval and Chioua and their team of 15 started as an independent international distribution company under the Wild Bunch International (WBI) banner in 2019, but kept the partnership with their old company for three years.

“When we founded Wild Bunch International, Wild Bunch took a 20% equity stake in return for us using the Wild Bunch brand in our name, which is now owned by the group under a signed three-year agreement,” explains Chioua. “This agreement expired in November 2022, with an escape clause for both parties.

Referring to the current trend of consolidating independent film companies under banners such as Mediawan and Fremantle, Maraval noted wryly. “Everyone sells. We buy ourselves back.”

It’s been three and a half busy years.

The company continues to sell established A-list festival-goers such as Ken Loach, Claire Denis, Maïwenn, Kore-Eda Hirokazu, Gaspar Noé, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne and Cristian Mungiu, as well as scout escape work by newcomers such as winners of the Golden Palm of Cannes by Julia Ducournau titaniumWinner of the Golden Lion of Venice by Audrey Diwan happenand Dea Kulumbegashvili’s San Sebastian Golden Shell winner Get started.

At the same time, Maraval and Chioua pushed the company into production with the creation of Wilde Weste, a joint venture with Thierry Lounas and his film company Capricci to develop and produce French and European genre films, and Le Collectif 64 with producer Marc Dujardin.

For many international filmmakers, the Wild Bunch name will forever be associated with the original team, their parties and the slew of titles they launched that rocked cinemas and festivals throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

To name just a few, these are provocative photos like those of Virginie Despentes Holy shitDominique Strauss-Kahn drama by Abel Ferrara Welcome to New York and nose Climax; her 11 Cannes Palme d’Or winners, including Michael Moore Fahrenheit 9/11Christian Mungius 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days and Abdellatif Kechiches Blue is the warmest colorr; and eight Oscar winners with that of Michel Hazanavicius The artistLuc Jacques March of the Penguins and that of Hayao Miyazaki Mentally gone.

Maraval is phlegmatic about the name change, saying many of the directors of these films will continue to work with the renamed company and it’s time to start a new chapter.

“This is the final scene of an adventure that ended three years ago when we founded Wild Bunch International. In our best interest and in the interest of the team, it is time to move on rather than carry the legacy of Wild Bunch with us,” he said.

The company is still in the process of securing the proposed new name.

When Maraval and Chioua founded Wild Bunch in 2002 with Vincent Grimond (who stepped down as CEO of Wild Bunch Group in 2021) and Alain de la Mata (who still remains a shareholder in the newly independent company), they had inspiration taken from Sam’s classic 1969 Peckinpah. The wild gang.

The new name is hoped to come from a ’90s classic, but Maraval reached out to the A-list director for permission before the idea goes official.

“Out of courtesy we ask for permission. We don’t want him to find out about it in the trade,” said Maraval. “We’ll see if he responds that he’s being honored or that it’s out of the question.”

Early Friday morning in Paris, Maraval was still waiting for a definitive answer. If the director agrees, then this is reason for a second party, says the irrepressible joie de vivre.

meeting We sat down with Maraval and Chioua to discuss the name change and their long-term plans for their new venture ahead of the party, and we’ll release the interview on Friday.