Founded in 1994 by William Tyrer and Chris Ball, Newmarket Entertainment Group has grown from a private film finance company to one of the preeminent producers and distributors of independent film in the world.

By 1998, having been involved in the financing of over 75 features such as THE USUAL SUSPECTS, Jim Jarmusch's DEAD MAN, and the Wachowski's debut BOUND, Tyrer and Ball had built a creative team and expanded into production. Newmarket's first production was MEMENTO, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. This film was followed up with such productions and co- productions as THE MEXICAN, CRUEL INTENTIONS, THE SKULLS, PROM NIGHT and THE PRESTIGE.

Newmarket Entertainment Group's distribution arm, Newmarket Films, was created to theatrically release MEMENTO in the US. The company followed up this release with a surprising string of critical and box office successes that sound like a roll call of great indie cinema: DONNIE DARKO, WHALE RIDER, MONSTER, DOWNFALL and THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

Future plans include a full production slate BULLRUSH and THE YEAR OF FOG are now in pre-production; the development of relationships with past collaborators such as Chris and Jonah Nolan, Neal Moritz, and Nikki Caro; and the continuing expansion through production and acquisition of the company's substantial film library of well over 250 titles.

In a time when almost every independent is either closing its doors or being gobbled up by a major corporation, Newmarket continues to maintain its independence.

"It's very exciting," says Chris Ball, "that whilst we retain our autonomy, we are also able to form strategic partnerships around the world that allow us to have a bigger presence and strength in the market place."