Pathé Signs Deal With ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ Producer Celador Films

Pathé is expanding its library with five titles acquired from London-based production banner Celador Films, including Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire.”

Pathé has collaborated with Celador Films and its founder Paul Smith on the development, production and sales of many movies, including “Slumdog Millionaire” which Pathé sold around the world. The five-picture library pact also includes Neil Marshall’s “Centurion” and Jon Harris’s “The Descent” and “The Descent Part 2,” as well as Tom Harper’s “The Scouting Book for Boys.”

“We are thrilled to welcome these acclaimed titles, which have achieved both commercial success and prestigious awards recognition, into the Pathé library,” said Pathé’s president Ardavan Safaee.

“We look forward to maximizing their potential and ensuring they continue to captivate audiences for years to come,” Safaee continued.

Smith, meanwhile, said, “Throughout the majority of the existence of Celador Films, Pathé has acted efficiently and successfully as distributor in the U.K. and France and sales agent in the rest of the world for almost all of the titles produced by Celador Films.”  Smith said the new deal is a “testament to this relationship, forged over many years, that we entrust Celador Films to their stewardship.”

Pathé is having a busy year with several critical and commercial hits, including “The Count of Monte Cristo” which is the second highest grossing French-language film of 2024 so far with nearly 9 million tickets sold; and Jacques Audiard’s crime musical “Emilia Perez” which represents France in the Oscar race. Both movies will compete at this year’s American French Film Festival.