Former IM Global Exec Launches Faith-Based Film Fund, Unveils ‘Moses the Black’ as First Project (EXCLUSIVE)
A new faith-based film fund has been set up by former IM Global executive Alexandros Potter and filmmaker Yelena Popovic, behind the hugely successful 2021 drama “Man of God,” about the Greek saint Nectarios of Aegina.
Simeon Faith, one of a number of new announcements in the faith-based film world in recent months, is a dedicated equity film fund focused on financing and producing what it describes as “talent-driven, high-end artistic and commercial fare with strong elements of faith for a global audience.”
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The new fund aims to finance one to two films per year over the next four years. The first project on the slate is “Moses the Black,” a story of a gangster in modern day Chicago that is inspired by the fourth-century saint of the same name. The film is scheduled to go into production this year, with Popovic as writer and director.
Simeon Faith comes backed by a network of cinephiles and investors, including the former owners of Cinespace Film Studios, which was sold to buyout firm TPG in 2021. Former Cinespace Film Studios owners, the Pissios family of Chicago and the Mirkopoulos family of Toronto, are co-financing “Moses the Black” through their newly established Nick Mirkopoulos Cinematic Fund, named in honor of the Cinespace founder and philanthropist.
Potter served for several years as an executive at IM Global, the film finance, sales and distribution company, and at Grosvenor Park, a dedicated $400 million film fund backed by the Fortress Investment Group. Potter was involved in structuring the financing of over 25 films, with budgets ranging from $1 million to $80 million with worldwide studio distribution. He will serve as co-CEO for Simeon Faith and be responsible for the fund’s day-to-day operations and strategy, including financing and production.
Popovic, meanwhile, wrote, directed and, alongside Potter, produced “Man of God,” the English-language international production starring Mickey Rourke, which broke box office records in Greece in 2021. Popovic will serve as co-CEO for Simeon Faith, handling the fund’s day-to-day content development strategy, including development and creative oversight. Industry veteran Florence Larsonneur, previously at Fox international Productions, IM Global and Recorded Picture Company, will serve as president of business affairs.
“We’re thrilled to support impactful content like ‘Moses the Black’ that can truly change lives,” said Alex Pissios, president and CEO of Cinespace Film Studios. “This follows in the footsteps and honors the legacy of our great uncle, who gave opportunities and inspired underserved communities.”
Simeon Faith will be managed by Potter and Popovic’s production company, Simeon Entertainment, which investment banker and entrepreneur John Kynigopoulos took a direct minority stake in last year. Simeon Entertainment is currently casting “Lost Weekend,” a buddy comedy based on a true John Lennon story directed by comedy auteur Frank Coraci (“Wedding Singer,” “Click”). Freeway Entertainment Group is providing escrow and revenue-sharing solutions to the fund and its film investments.
The launch of Simon Faith underlines the current boom in faith-based content, spurred by the phenomenal box office earnings of last year’s “Sound of Freedom” and the ongoing success of TV megahit “The Chosen.” Last month, Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin announced a new multi-picture and multi-year first-look deal with Netflix to produced faith-based films, while Pinnacle Pictures took a slate of faith-based films — including a new installment in the “God’s Not Dead” franchise” — to the market in Cannes. In January, Amazon MGM Studios partnered with The Wonder Project to produce faith-based films and series and ordered the series “House of David” for Prime Video.
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