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Tarak Ben Ammar

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Tarak Ben Ammar
Born(1949-06-12)12 June 1949
Alma materGeorgetown University
OccupationFilm producer

Tarak Ben Ammar (Arabic: طارق بن عمّار; born June 12, 1949) is a Tunisian-French film producer and distributor. He is famous for his interest in artistic movies, especially when they are related to Mediterranean culture or require North African locations.

Early years

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Tarak Ben Ammar was born in 1949 in Tunis, to a political family in Tunisia[1] who fought for and gained independence from France in 1956, and where his uncle[2] Habib Bourguiba became the first President of Tunisia. After studies in Rome and graduating from[3] Georgetown University in Washington, Tarak Ben Ammar started his career as film producer[3].

Career

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Tarak Ben Ammar forged a successful career as a film producer[4], working on George Lucas’ Star Wars, Steven Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, and La Traviata, Monthy Python’s Life of Brian, Roman Polanski’s Pirates, and Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ. He created the film industry in Tunisia by building the first film studios which have attracted 58 films[5]. He produced all his films through French companies Carthago Films, and Quinta Communications. In 1984, French President François Mitterrand awarded him the[6] Légion d'Honneur in recognition of his contribution to cinema. Tarak Ben Ammar is also a businessman[7], he has served as an advisor to Rupert Murdoch, Prince Al Waleed, Leo Kirch, Vincent Bolloré[7] and Silvio Berlusconi and has been board member of companies such as Mediaset, Mediobanca, Telecom Italia and Vivendi[8]. He has also been Michael Jackson’s manager from 1996 to 1998 and was the producer of his last worldwide tour, Michael Jackson’s HiStory Tour[9]. In 2009, Tarak Ben Ammar officially launched Nessma, the first North African independent TV Channel which plays a key role in promoting freedom of speech and democracy in Tunisia[10]. Nessma is also the leading channel in North Africa. He also controls Eagle Pictures[11], which is Italy’s number one independent film distribution and production company with a library of 3500 films.

Tarak Ben Ammar also formed a US venture called Spyglass Media Group[12]. Spyglass announced a strategic partnership with Warner Bros and other important US partners[13], such as Lionsgate Entertainment[12]. In 2022, Tarak Ben Ammar acquired with Lantern Entertainment and his company Eagle Pictures, Studios de Paris[14], the largest movie studio in Paris[15]. In 2023, his company Eagle Pictures has enlarged its strategic alliance with Sony Pictures by becoming the exclusive distributor of Sony Pictures in Italy[16]. Eagle Pictures is also the exclusive distributor of Paramount Pictures in Italy[16]. In the same time, Tarak Ben Ammar with Eagle Pictures, has announced the building of a new film studio in Rome[17]. Tarak Ben Ammar has built a media company operating in France, Italy, Tunisia, UK, and in the USA, it has partnerships with famous US companies such as Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros and Lionsgate.

Private life

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Tarak Ben Ammar is the son of Mondher Ben Ammar, Tunisian lawyer, politician and diplomat, and Corsican mother Simone Gaggeri. He is the brother of writer Hélé Béji. His aunt Wassila Ben Ammar was the First Lady of Tunisia as the wife of the first President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba. Tarak Ben Ammar has a first son, Jad Ben Ammar, film producer, and three children from his marriage to Polish actress Beata (born Sonczuk), Neil, Tarak Jr. and his model-singer daughter Sonia Ben Ammar (Sonia Ammar).

Filmography

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Producer

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Executive Producer

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Distributor

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References

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  1. ^ "Famille Ben Ammar", Wikipédia (in French), 2024-08-06, retrieved 2025-01-06
  2. ^ "Tarak Ben Ammar, l'arme anti-Netflix de Bolloré". lejdd.fr (in French). 2016-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  3. ^ a b "Producer wants to make Tunisia Africa's film capital;NEWLN:UPI Arts & Entertainment -- Scott's World - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  4. ^ "'We're going to develop local culture, local talent, build the emerging film industry of Saudi Arabia,' says Hollywood producer Tarak Ben Ammar". Arab News Japan. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  5. ^ "Les mille et une vies de Tarak Ben Ammar" (in French). 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  6. ^ "Catégorie:Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur décoré en 1984", Wikipédia (in French), 2022-07-20, retrieved 2025-01-06
  7. ^ a b "Les mille et une vies de Tarak Ben Ammar" (in French). 2011-11-25. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  8. ^ Ramsay, Derek (2017-09-26). "Tarak Ben Ammar". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  9. ^ Loupien, Serge. "«Michael? Un garçon simple». Tarak Ben Ammar est le nouveau manager de Jackson". Libération (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  10. ^ Staff, Variety (2010-05-07). "Nessma TV programs for change". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  11. ^ Gagliardi, Pino (2023-08-03). "Tarak Ben Ammar on His Big Italian Job(s) and Why He Owes His Career to Roberto Rossellini". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  12. ^ a b Goldsmith, Jill (2021-07-15). "Lionsgate Takes 20% Of Spyglass Media, Most Of Its 200-Title Library In Broad Strategic Partnership Including First Look Television Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  13. ^ Lang, Brent (2019-04-16). "Warner Bros. Invests in Spyglass Media". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  14. ^ "Tarak Ben Ammar Finalizes Acquisition of Studios of Paris, Home of 'Emily in Paris' (EXCLUSIVE)". Lantern Entertainment. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  15. ^ "A propos | Studios de Paris". A propos | Studios de Paris (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  16. ^ a b Keslassy, Elsa (2022-11-01). "Sony, Tarak Ben Ammar's Eagle Pictures Ink Distribution, Co-Production Pact". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  17. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (2023-08-01). "Tarak Ben Ammar Expands Italy Operations by Buying Unscripted Outfit Blu Yazmine, Enters Talks to Build Rome Studios (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
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