Olivia Stewart’s career in film started in 1985 at the British Film Institute where she worked on Terence Davies’ award winning DISTANCE VOICES, STILL LIVES (1988 International Critics Award, Cannes, the Golden Leopard, Locarno, the Critics’ Prize, Toronto), and Andrew Grieve’s adaptation of Bruce Chatwin’s ON THE BLACK HILL.
She then went on to work as Associate Producer on Charles Sturridge’s WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, Mike Figgis’ THE BROWNING VERSION and a number of Film Four releases including LADDER OF SWORDS, 1871 and PAPER MASK.
In 1992 she set up THREE RIVERS LTD and produced Terence Davies’ next three films, THE LONG DAY CLOSES, THE NEON BIBLE, starring Gena Rowlands, and THE HOUSE OF MIRTH, starring Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz, Dan Aykroyd, Laura Linney and Antony La Paglia..
THE HOUSE OF MIRTH was sold internationally to more than 27 countries including to Film Four in the UK, Sony Picture Classics in the US and BIM in Italy.
She also co-produced Mark Herman’s BRASSED OFF, starring Pete Postlethwaite and Ewan McGregor, and Todd Haynes’ VELVET GOLDMINE starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Christian Bale, Toni Colette and Ewan McGregor.
All the films with which she has been involved have obtained international distribution and four have been shown in Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
In 2000 she moved to Rome, where she works as a script consultant, writer and producer.
In 2001 she was a member of the Jury at the Locarno Film Festival, returning the following year to chair the English language press conference discussions with film directors.
In 2007 she worked for the Taormina Film Festival as on stage interviewer with directors Goran Paskaljevic, Matt Dillon and Terence Davies.
Since 2008 she has worked as a script advisor for the Binger Film Lab’s Writers’ and Directors’ courses.
In 2009 she was a member of the NFDC’s Works in Progress Committee at the Goa Film Bazaar, returning in 2010 as again a member of the Works in Progress Committee and also as an advisor for the NFDC/Binger Film Lab Script Workshop – the first sessions were held in conjunction with the Locarno Film Festival in August 2010, as part of the Open Doors Programme.
Current films in production (as producer and writer):
THE CONSPIRATORS (LE MENZOGNE DELLA NOTTE): PRISON DRAMA SET IN MID 19TH CENTURY ITALY, FROM THE AWARD WINNING NOVEL BY GESUALDO BUFALINO..
THE HOUSE OF SLEEP: (LA CASA DEL SONNO) FROM THE NOVEL BY JONATHAN COE.
Past Films (as producer and writer):
THE HOUSE OF MIRTH (LA CASA DELLA GIOIA) - 2000
A THREE RIVERS PRODUCTION STARRING GILLIAN ANDERSON, ERIC STOLTZ, ANTONY LA PAGLIA, LAURA LINNEY AND DAN AYKROYD. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY TERENCE DAVIES.
UK RELEASE BY FILM FOUR OCTOBER 2000; US RELEASE BY SONY PICTURES CLASSICS DECEMBER 2000. SOLD TO US, FRANCE, GERMANY, BELGIUM, ITALY, SPAIN, AUSTRALIA, NETHERLANDS, ISRAEL, SOUTH AMERICA, ETC.
VELVET GOLDMINE – 1998
A ZENITH PRODUCTION. DIRECTED BY TODD HAYNES. STARRING EWEN MCGREGOR, JONATHON RHYS MYERS, CHRISTIAN BALE AND TONI COLETTE.
SELECTED FOR OFFICIAL COMPETITION, CANNES FILM FESTIVAL – WON PRIZE FOR ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT.
BRASSED OFF (GRAZIE, SIGNORA THATCHER) – 1997
A PROMINENT FEATURES PRODUCTION FOR MIRAMAX AND CHANNEL FOUR.
DIRECTOR MARK HERMAN, STARRING PETE POSTLETHWAITE & EWEN MCGREGOR.
THE NEON BIBLE (SERENATA ALLA LUNA) – 1995
A SCALA/THREE RIVERS PRODUCTION FOR MIRAMAX AND CHANNEL FOUR.
DIRECTOR TERENCE DAVIES, STARRING GENA ROWLANDS & DENIS LEARY.
SELECTED FOR OFFICIAL COMPETITION, CANNES FILM FESTIVAL.
THE BROWNING VERSION (I RICORDI DI ABBEY) - 1993
PARAMOUNT: DIRECTOR MIKE FIGGIS, PRODUCER RIDLEY SCOTT, STARRING ALBERT FINNEY, GRETA SCACCHI, MICHAEL GAMBON.
A BUSINESS AFFAIR (IL SOGNO DI KATE) - 1993
A FILM & GENERAL/OSBY FILMS PRODUCTION. DIRECTOR CHARLOTTE BRANDSTORM, STARRING JONATHON PRYCE, CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, CAROLE BOUQUET.
THE LONG DAY CLOSES (IL LUNGO GIORNO FINISCE) – 1992
DIRECTOR TERENCE DAVIES CHANNEL FOUR, BFI AND FOREIGN PRE-SALES. 1991-2.
SELECTED FOR OFFICAL COMPETITION, CANNES FILM FESTIVAL.
WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD (MONTERIANO) - 1990
LWT & SOVEREIGN PICTURES. 1990. DIRECTOR CHARLES STURRIDGE.
MAXIMILLIAN (1867) - 1990.
SHORT FILM FOR THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF NEW YORK. DIRECTOR KEN MCMULLEN
PAPERMASK (ANESTESIA LETALE) – 1989
DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER MORAHAN – GRANADA, BRITISH SCREEN & CHANNEL FOUR.
1871 – 1989
CHANNEL FOUR. DIRECTOR KEN MCMULLEN.
LADDER OF SWORDS - 1988
CHANNEL FOUR & BRITISH SCREEN. – DIRECTOR NORMAN HULL,
DISTANT VOICES, STILL LIVES (VOCI LONTANE…SEMPRE PRESENTE) BFI, CHANNEL FOUR & ZDF. 1988. SELECTED FOR DIRECTOR’S FORTNIGHT, CANNES. WON INTERNATIONAL CRITICS’ PRIZE.
ON THE BLACK HILL (SULLA COLLINA NERA) - 1987
BFI, BRITISH SCREEN & CHANNEL FOUR. DIRECTOR ANDREW GRIEVE.
Previous Work:
1985-1988 FILM PRODUCTION OFFICER AT THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE
1981-84 SCRIPT READER FOR ENIGMA FILMS AND GOLDCREST FILMS.