Ken Loach’s Classic Films Find a New Home with Trusted Longtime Partners

Ken Loach and Rebecca O’Brien Secure Three Deals for Director’s Back Catalog

In a significant move for the legacy of acclaimed filmmaker Ken Loach, his production company, Sixteen Films, has finalized three deals to consolidate his back catalog. This initiative aims to unify his extensive filmography under a single banner.

London-based Sixteen Films has appointed the French company Goodfellas as the worldwide sales agent for these films, while Le Pacte will handle distribution in France, and Curzon will manage the titles in the UK and Ireland.

Among the works included in this new agreement are Loach’s 2006 Palme d’Or winner The Wind That Shakes the Barley, alongside notable Cannes contenders such as Land and Freedom (1995), My Name is Joe (1998), Bread & Roses (2000), and Sweet Sixteen (2002). Additional titles include the Venice-selected film The Navigators (2001) and Ae Fond Kiss, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2004.

The announcement comes as Loach prepares to attend the Cannes Film Festival for a screening of a newly restored 4K version of Land and Freedom as part of the Cinéma de Plage strand, with the lineup unveiled today.

Looking ahead, several of these films will be remastered in 4K as part of a long-term commitment to preserving and expanding the reach of Loach’s work, with further titles expected to be added in the coming months.

“We’re really thrilled to be announcing this acquisition. It’s been a long-held desire of ours to bring the Ken Loach catalogue under one umbrella as an extraordinary legacy collection, and this is a major leap forward in that direction,” remarked O’Brien.

She continued, praising Goodfellas and Le Pacte as trusted partners, and noted Curzon’s significant role in this endeavor. “In the UK, Curzon feel like natural partners for us in this venture, and we’re delighted they are coming on board after their slew of strong retrospectives.”

O’Brien and Loach established Sixteen Films in 2002 to manage the production of the director’s films. Their collaboration with Goodfellas began under the previous banner of Wild Bunch with the 2009 drama Looking For Eric.

Goodfellas CEO Vincent Maraval shared enthusiasm for continuing the partnership, stating, “We are delighted to continue and deepen our relationship with Sixteen Films. They are our historical and privileged long-time partners, and working on part of their library has been a long-awaited desire for our team.”

Maraval emphasized the company’s passion for not only selling new projects but also for reviving cinema classics. “We will soon announce special events to help distributors to re-release Ken’s masterpieces,” he added.

Jean Labadie, co-founder and President of Le Pacte, noted the historic relationship with Sixteen Films, saying, “We have had the honour to distribute all Ken Loach movies since The Angels’ Share. Being in charge of these seven marvelous movies is fantastic for all our team.”

Curzon’s Head of Business Affairs, Ulysse Kelbert, recognized the upcoming acquisition as a key aspect of their mission. “Presenting the work of great directors through fresh retrospectives and new home entertainment editions is fundamental to our business, and we can’t wait to give these films the careful attention they deserve,” he remarked. “It is an honour to work with Ken, Rebecca, and the teams at Sixteen Films and Goodfellas to bring these modern classics into the Curzon catalogue.”