We would like to invite all Anaheim University students and alumni to attend our next Live from Hollywood guest speaker, Highland Film Group President of International Sales, Todd Olsson, on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM California time (PST). Todd Olsson adds to Highland Film Group a unique perspective; studio and indie experience on both the creative development and production side, coupled with extensive experience in financing, international marketing and distribution. Holding a Fine Arts degree in Cinema from Brigham Young University, Todd began his career at the Walt Disney Company as Director of Acquisitions at BVHE, acquiring more than 100 titles and managing the studio's Studio Ghibli deal. He then went into the world of independent film, working in international sales positions for such companies as Mark Damon's MDP and Lakeshore Entertainment.
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Todd Olsson, President of International Sales, adds to Highland Film Group a unique perspective; studio and indie experience on both the creative development and production side, coupled with extensive experience in financing, international marketing and distribution.
Todd began his career at The Walt Disney Company as Director of Acquisitions for international at BVHE, over the next six years Todd acquired more than 100 titles. He also managed the Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) deal for the studio, valued at over $1 billion. Todd co-produced English language versions of KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE and CASTLE IN THE SKY, working with Kirsten Dunst, Anna Paquin, Cloris Leachman, Andy Dick, James Van Der Beek, and many others. He was also integral in the dubbing and release of PRINCESS MONONOKE with Claire Danes and Billy Bob Thornton through Miramax.
Todd left Disney to join independent film producer Mark Damon’s MDP (Behaviour, [now Media 8]) as VP International Sales. He handled such films as THE MUSKETEER, EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, FEAR.COM, and EXTREME OPS, along with a substantial library. Then Todd became Head of International for four years at Promark/Zenpix and American World Pictures, handling acquisitions, overseeing marketing, sales and worldwide distribution.
For the next six years, Todd worked as head of International for Bauer Martinez Studios and then Mark Amin’s Sobini Films, when the company was paired with Lionsgate. Those Sobini titles included BURNING BRIGHT, GARDENS OF THE NIGHT (Exec Producer), and THE PRINCE & ME 2, and he was instrumental in developing Sobini titles: STONEHEARST ASYLUM and upcoming ZORRO: THE BLACK FOX, starring Gael García Bernal to be directed by Jonás Cuarón (in pre-production).
At Bauer Martinez, Todd handled development, licensing, financing and marketing for such films as THE FLOCK (Richard Gere, Claire Danes), I COULD NEVER BE YOUR WOMAN (Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd), and THE GROOMSMEN (Ed Burns, Brittany Murphy), and for North American distribution; HARSH TIMES (Christian Bale) and VAN WILDER 2. Following Bauer Todd was brought in as SVP International at Lakeshore Entertainment, working with titles AGE OF ADALINE, THE VATICAN TAPES and WALK OF SHAME and developing an innovative and progressive plan to reinvigorate sales on their considerable library over the next few years.
Todd spent several recent years as Head of International (SVP) at International Film Trust. At the time the company completed Stephen King’s CELL (John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson), Werner Herzog’s SALT AND FIRE (Michael Shannon, Gael Garcia Bernal), AND THEN I GO, and TO THE STARS.
Todd then joined Highland film group as President of International Sales. Some current projects include THE TIGER RISING (Dennis Quaid, Queen Latifa), BANDIT (Mel Gibson, Josh Duhamel) THE MISFITS (Pierce Brosnan, Nick Cannon, Tim Roth, Jamie Chung), WASH ME IN THE RIVER (Robert DeNiro, John Malkovich, Jack Huston), NOT WITHOUT HOPE (Matthias Schoenaerts), MEDIEVAL (Ben Foster, Michael Caine), TWICE CUT (Samuel L. Jackson, Naomi Watts, Pete Davidson).
Todd has a Fine Arts degree in Cinema from Brigham Young University