The Independents, the Paris-based communications group specialized in lifestyle and luxury, has acquired the French advertising and film production-focused Phantasm Group.
The Phantasm Group is best known in the film industry for its production arm Vixens, the recent credits of which include Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez and James Grey’s Paper Tiger.
Working across development, financing and production, the company has produced or co-produced more than 20 feature films, half of which were fully or partly financed under the studio’s model of bringing luxury brands into projects as creative and financial partners.
Recent examples include Emilia Pérez, which was produced by Saint Laurent Productions, the film arm of the fashion house’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello, and Cédric Jimenez sci-fi Chien 51, which was backed by upmarket sports label Lacoste.
The company has also worked with the likes of Jean-Luc Godard, Claire Denis, Abel Ferrara, Gaspar Noé and Yann Demange.
Gary Farkas, Clément Lepoutre and Olivier Muller founded the Phantasm Group in 2015 with a collective spirit and the aim of disrupting the commercial film model.
It has since brought together directors, photographers, record labels, brands and investors to collaborate across formats and industries, with clients and partners also including Dior, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Giorgio Armani, Hublot, Hermès, Bvlgari, Chanel and Jacquemus.
Alongside Vixens, the group also comprises Phantasm, which is focused on producing commercials, music videos, digital content, and Phenomena, which represents a roster of internationally acclaimed photographers.
“We are thrilled to welcome the collective under Phantasm Group into The Independents’ ecosystem,” said Isabelle Chouvet, Co-Founder and CEO of The Independents.
“As entertainment becomes an increasingly important communications lever for brands, the group’s extensive track record across cinematic production and artist management will complement and extend our capabilities, bringing even greater creative depth to our integrated global offering.”
Farkas, Lepoutre and Muller said the move marked a new chapter for the group and an opportunity to accelerate their international ambitions and scale up.
“Together with world-class creative partners within The Independents, we see a clear opportunity to push boundaries across brand, culture, film and entertainment,” they said.
