A brand new independent production company with a focus on premium scripted content has opened in London. Alef UK, headed by leading writer/director Gilles Bannier (Blue Lights, Trigger Point) as Creative Director, is set to develop, create and produce high-end scripted programming for global platforms and broadcasters.
A stand-alone subsidiary of Paris-based, award-winning production house Alef One, led by Nora Melhli (The Tunnel, Carlos Ghosn: The Last Flight), Alef UK will build its own slate of programming for the global market with an emphasis on contemporary drama, reflecting diversity and societal change in all parts of the world.
For its launch, Alef UK has secured an option on Mind Reader, a thriller by best-selling novelist Iain Levison, an award-winning Scottish-American crime writer. Levison’s books have been widely published in France, with some successfully adapted for the screen.
Screenwriter Jonathan Wakeham – To Catch a Killer and the forthcoming Brian Epstein biopic Midas Man – is attached to adapt Mind Reader into a six episode returning series.
Jonathan Wakeham comments, “Alef One has a terrific track record of timely, intelligent and provocative storytelling and Gilles has directed some of the most acclaimed TV series in recent years. So, I’m thrilled to be working with them at the launch of Alef UK, bringing Iain Levison’s taut, witty and alarmingly prescient thriller Mind Reader to television.”
Gilles Bannier explains, “We are extremely pleased to launch Alef UK with such an exciting title and to be working alongside Jonathan as he crafts this fascinating story into a screenplay. Our DNA is to create content with powerful narratives around strong, compelling characters. As an independent unit, we are free to choose projects which we are passionate about and believe in one hundred percent. Nora and I will be working closely with like-minded UK, European and US partners to build truly collegial co-productions and explore our network of writers, directors and wider creative talent.
Nora Melhli expands, “Our priority at Alef One is to tell universal stories that push the boundaries of society and shake off taboos. I particularly wanted someone at the helm of our UK operation who would share these values. It was also important to ensure that we had an experienced creative at the forefront of our business and, with Gilles, we have just that person – he has a great eye for a relatable story, is not afraid to break convention, as well as having vast experience and a wide range of industry connections across all disciplines to make the best and most accessible content possible.”
French-born Gilles Bannier has lived in London for almost ten years. He most recently directed the first series of Blue Lights for BBC One. Prior to this he directed the first series of critically acclaimed Trigger Point for Hat Trick/ITV which was the channel’s highest rated drama of the past year with an audience of 10.9 million at launch. He worked on the first and second series of Tin Star, starring Tim Roth, for Sky Atlantic/Kudos. Gilles was also Lead Director on Danny Brocklehurst’s crime drama In The Dark for BBC One and directed two series of The Tunnel for Kudos/Shine France/Sky Atlantic/Canal+.
Gilles’ other notable credits include acclaimed crime drama Spiral (Engrenages) for Canal+ and the critically acclaimed Les Beaux Mecs, an eight-part gangster story which received 11 European awards and nominations, including the Prix Italia.
Nora Melhli joined forces to create Alef One in 2018 with Jacques Arthur Essebag who founded Satisfaction Group which produces more than 1000 hours of TV content every year.
Since then, she has been developing and producing films and series such as Flight MH370, Carlos Ghosn: The Last Flight, more recently the TF1 hit, The Nanny, for the French and international markets (Canal+, BBC, Arte, MBC, ViaPlay, FTV).
Prior to this Nora was Creative Director of Originals at the Altice Group, where she developed the group’s international cinema and series strategy and coproduced the series The Medici, Riviera, Britannia and Tin Star.
Multi-lingual Nora built her career as producer both in France and abroad. In France she created the Original Drama divisions for two of Europe’s largest international groups: Endemol in April 2007 and Shine in September 2012. During this time, she produced Yann Piat, chronique d’un assassinat for Canal+, The Tunnel in co-production with Canal+ and Sky UK, and Malaterra, adapted from the British series Broadchurch.
Nora has been President of the French Independent Producers Union (SPI) since May 2021.
