Movie marketing and publicity specialist Rob Deacon has set up Phoenix Film Finance to leverage his expertise in the industry to make an impact on the independent production scene.
In this venture, he is working closely with experienced executive producer Ian Davies of the U.K.’s Initialize Films (formerly Noah Media Group and Boudica Film Fund).
Phoenix will also explore cash flowing VAT for independent U.K. productions and select equity and gap financing opportunities. Deacon operates from Edinburgh and London.
Also in the slate is Ari Matikainen’s feature documentary “The Game of Chaos,” about opaque forms of warfare. It is produced by Finnish doc specialist Kinocompany, Estonian production company Traumfabriek and Initialize Films, and backed by U.K. film fund Trailblazers, Finnish Film Foundation, Estonian Film Fund and YLE.
Finally, there is sci-fi animation “Pale Pink,” directed by Kuba Mikurda, which is co-produced by U.K.’s Caspian Films and due for theatrical release in 2028.
Deacon will be attending the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 5 and 6, where he will be taking meetings.
Davies has a background of producing, financing and packaging documentary and fiction feature films. Previous titles include “The Falling,” starring Florence Pugh and Maisie Williams, and thriller “’71,” starring Jack O’Connell. Whilst at Noah, Davies produced documentaries “I’m Carl Lewis” and “Snow Leopard Sisters,” which both debuted at SXSW in 2025 and “Checkpoint Zoo.”
