Raphaelle Mathieu, an industry veteran with two decades of experience in the distribution and production of audiovisual content, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Cyber Group Studios. She succeeds Dominique Bourse, who was named Chairman and CEO of the company in February 2023.
Mathieu, a company board member, has held various positions within Cyber Group Studios, including Director of Sales, Acquisitions, and New Media, and most recently, Executive Vice-President. Before joining Cyber Group Studios in 2016, Mathieu served as General Delegate of SEDPA (French Association of Distributors).
“For seven years, [Raphaelle] has successfully developed our international distribution activity and played a key role in financing our series as well as in the development of our commercial activity. She will now second me in managing the group,” said Bourse. “Our focus is on accelerating the launch of global franchises and growing our development, production, distribution platforms, and digital activity in strategic and innovative ways, so that we can offer even richer and more immersive experiences. Raphaelle’s knowledge of our industry combined with her entrepreneurial skills and experience with institutional relations will be key to helping us continue to fulfill our ambitious roadmap. As we expand our reach, we’re also stepping into the young adult series arena, and reinforcing our dedication to supporting third-party projects through production and distribution activities.”
“It is with immense pride that I take on the role of Chief Operating Officer at Cyber Group Studios, reporting to Dominique Bourse,” said Mathieu. I will put all my determination and passion into closely collaborating with and providing solid support for each pillar of our organization, to help bring our roadmap to fruition. Together, we will work to deliver Premium, varied, and innovative content for children, families, and young
adults around the world, to enjoy across many platforms for years to come.”
Belinda Blacklock has joined Modern Magic, the media company founded by Oscar winner Rodney Rothman (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) and former MGM Co-President of Production Adam Rosenberg, as Vice President of Animation. In this new role she will find, develop and produce animated film and television projects. The move comes as Modern Magic continues to grow after signing a first-look animated broadcast deal with Fox and a first-look live-action feature deal with Sony Pictures.
Blacklock began her career as an animation producer working at the Oscar- and Emmy-winning animation studio Passion Pictures in London before moving to the U.S. in 2009 to set up Passion’s New York studio, which she helmed for seven years. In 2016 she moved to Los Angeles to join the VFX powerhouse Electric Theatre Collective, where she established and ran their sister company, Friends Electric.
During her career, Blacklock has worked on a number of feature documentaries, such as Black Sun and In the Shadow of the Moon, which won the World Cinema Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. She has also produced multiple videos for Paul McCartney and The Beatles. She has received numerous awards including the Gold Lion, a D&AD award, a Clio, and was part of the team nominated for a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program for the Game of Thrones 360 Main Title.
Doberman Pictures announced the appointment of Sarah Wall to the newly created position of Head of Production, effective immediately. Wall will have responsibilities for all titles
in Doberman’s growing production slate.
“This is a fabulous opportunity to work more closely with our talented crew and clients,” said Wall. “After over 20 years in the business, I still get excited seeing shows come to life. I’m grateful to continue the journey at Doberman.”
The Vancouver-based studio specializes in preproduction on kids’ animation series. Founded in 2018 by animation veterans and staffed by a roster of 100 artists, Doberman’s credits include Not Quite Narwhal, Rhyme Time Town and Gabby’s Dollhouse — all for DreamWorks Animation and Netflix.
Technicolor Creative Studios announced that Mark Benson, former SVP, has been appointed President of The Mill, its business line dedicated to the production of advertising, branded content and interactive marketing solutions. With last years’ merger complete, Benson is charged with leading the business forward as it explores new forms of creative expression for clients and brands.
The Mill (VFX) and The Mill+ (Creative Production, Design, Experience) activities will now work and report into the regional studios’ respective MDs, who in turn will report to Benson.
“In my new role, I will focus on empowering The Mill’s creative, technology and production talent — creating a new legacy for the future. Mill colleagues will have the opportunity to thrive in varied creative environments thanks to our studios around the world in Amsterdam, Bangalore, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, New York, Paris, Seoul, and Shanghai. I am very excited about the unlimited potential for The Mill to continue to be a thought leader and trailblazer across the globe.”
Recent work showcasing the studio’s tech potential include The Mill+ / The Mill collaboration on HBO’s House of the Dragon DracARys augmented reality app. In addition, the VFX team created a series of 2D and 3D billboards for New York’s Times Square, London’s Piccadilly Circus and Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall.
Award-winning experience design company Imagination has appointed Alistair Wilson to the newly created role of Managing Director, Melbourne — rejoining the office that he helped establish more than 12 years ago. Wilson will report to Antony Gowthorp, MD of Imagination Australia. Wilson is moving from his current role, MD of Imagination Detroit and Global Lead of Imagination’s longest standing and largest global account, Ford Motor Company, which he held for five years. He is relocating with his family to his home in Melbourne at the end of the year.
The appointment reflects accelerated growth in South East Asia and Oceania through Imagination’s offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Singapore, building on existing long-standing client relationships with ANZ, AWS, Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank and Telstra, as well as an expanding portfolio of newer clients. Wilson and Gowthorp will work closely with the recently appointed Head of Growth, Justine Carr on new business planning, development and execution.
During his tenure leading Imagination Detroit, Wilson built a team which created and produced a series of experiences for Ford, including the buzzy launch campaign for the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning. Since 2020, the team won over 35 industry awards, many recognizing Imagination’s commitment to racial equality and finding solutions to make schools and communities safer from gun violence, an initiative Wilson spearheaded following a series of tragic school shootings in his Michigan community.
Motion graphic and 3D animation studio Radical Point Media has made two executive appointments. Helmed by Founder and Creative Director Kirk Hipkiss, the company caters to the television and streaming community, in addition to servicing film and digital VFX.
Kristen Colle has been elevated from Director of Content to Director of Operations. In this position, she will shepherd client relations, budgets, team and project management, among other responsibilities for the company. Part of the RPM team since 2018, Colle brings two decades of production experience from nature documentaries to real estate formats and food competition series (Curse of The Frozen Gold; Live Here, Buy This; Brother vs Brother) to her new position. She has held various leadership roles with successful production companies like JV Productions, Cineflix Productions and Scott Brothers Entertainment.
Warner Bros. Discovery alum Micheal McCray has been hired on as Director of Creative Innovation. McCray brings 20 years of experience in 3D animation, art direction and client relations to his role at RPM, and will spearhead the studio’s creative content innovation and expansion efforts, including the identification and implementation of new, bespoke tech solutions. He previously served as art director at Warner Bros. Discovery, a title he held through both the 2022 merger as well as Discovery’s acquisition of Scripps in 2018. During his tenure, he oversaw motion design and 3D animation for show titles and episodic graphics across such networks as HGTV, Food Network, Science Channel, Discovery Channel and Magnolia.
Film- und Medienfestival gGmbH (FMF), the primary organizer of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), welcomes Heike Mozer as its new Managing Director as of June 1. She succeeds Uwe Schmitz-Gielsdorf, who has been managing FMF on an interim basis since October 2022.
Mozer has a degree in administration and has been working at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg since 1991, where she took over the commercial management of Animationsinstitut in 2002. At the same time, she contributed to the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in the field of event management from 1991 to 1998 and was project manager of FMX – Film & Media Exchange between 2015 and 2020. She is thus experienced in the realisation of large-scale events and very well-connected in the regional, national, and international animation scenes.
“To welcome the world of animated film in all its facets and to create personal encounters between audiences and artists — that is what I am looking forward to. With the competent team at my side, I am also looking forward to further develop the ITFS and guide it into the future,” said Mozer.
