EXCLUSIVE: VFX firm FOLKS has opened a studio in London and hired Christian Roberton to lead it’s UK division.
Roberton’s official title is Executive Vice President of Features. His previous credits include movies like Disney’s The Jungle Book and 1917.
The company has said it is “immediately operational” in its new digs. Discussing the expansion, Sébastien Bergeron, CEO of FOLKS’s parent company Pitch Black, said he was “thrilled” by the company’s new presence in the UK.
“Having Christian join our creative leadership speaks to our commitment to building a world-class team that will naturally boost our high-end VFX offering,” Bergeron said. “This is a well-timed and well-deserved evolution for FOLKS. It demonstrates the strength of the Pitch Black platform that we have meticulously built throughout our network of brands by investing in new markets and capabilities to meet the industry’s toughest creative challenges. We bring a significant new perspective to this changing industry landscape.”
Amélie Poitras, FOLKS President, added: “Expanding to London is a defining moment for FOLKS. This strengthens our ability to serve the industry worldwide. With Christian’s leadership, we will deliver high-end VFX by bringing a large-scale VFX experience. We are creating a truly global network that brings new possibilities to our clients.”
Founded in 2012, FOLKS has operated offices in Montreal, Toronto, Bogota, Mumbai, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Vancouver, and Saguenay. The company arrives in London at a difficult moment for the local VFX community. Last month, UK VFX house Jellyfish Pictures suspended all operations to explore options for either a sale or large-scale investment. The company has since entered administration. At the top of the year, Technicolor filed for administration. The company’s global headcount was between 4,000-10,000.
