Former Buccaneer and Cineflix execs launch High Road Entertainment

Richard Tulk-Hart, the former co-chief exec at Buccaneer, has linked up with Cineflix’s former head of scripted TV James Durie to launch a new co-production and distribution business.

High Road Entertainment is a co-production consultancy that will advise scripted producers across Europe on project financing and distribution options.

The company is also developing its own scripted slate, with projects including crime series Antiparos in partnership with Tanweer Productions and Connor Swindells’ comedy drama Shinjuku Sugar Fox with Just John Films.

High Road already has its first commission in place, details of which have not yet been revealed.

The move comes a year after Tulk-Hart left Cineflix-owned Buccaneer, with Durie exiting the parent company in August, as revealed by Broadcast International. Buccaneer founder, Tony Wood, left Buccaneer in September.

Tulk-Hart went on to launch Volteo Media, which is being rebranded as High Road Entertaimment and will be led by the former Buccanneer and A+E exec and Durie, who are co-chief execs.

The duo first worked together at Miramax, where Durie was senior vice president of sales for EMEA and Tulk-Hart was head of international.

They have worked on projects during their careers including So Long, Marianne for NRK, Crave and ITVX, Channel 4’s In Flight and The Doll Factory on Paramount+, as well as Irvine Welsh’s Crime for ITV and Acorn TV’s Whitstable Pearl.

“In this fractured market it really feels like there is space for a flexible dynamic approach to getting shows from IP to screen,” Durie and Tulk-Hart said.

“Working closely with producers, agents, broadcasters, financiers and distributors we see that we all want to achieve the same goal. We’re here to join the dots and have done so on a number of shows already.

“There is no doubt we are in a difficult period for the industry and what we are able to do is navigate the key players through every step of the way and make sure a show is given it’s best chance of making it to screen.”

Tulk-Hart and Durie, who count shows ranging from Sunny Nights to The Walsh Sisters among their individual credits, will be at Series Mani next week to launch their slate to broadcasters and streamers.