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Mark Shivas

Mark Shivas
24-04-1938 to 11-10-2008

Mark studied Law at University. He started “Movie” magazine, and wrote film stories and interviews for the New York Times.

Mark started at Granada TV in 1964, as an assistant to the Head of Story department. He then moved on to researcher for “Scene at 6.30”, which he later directed, along with “All Our yesterdays”, “What The Papers Say” and produced and presented “Cinema”.

He moved to BBC TV Drama in 1969, where he first produced “The Six Wives Of Henry VIII”. Here are a few highlights he produced: Evelyn Waugh’s “Put Out More Flags” and “Vile Bodies”, “Casanova” by Dennis Potter, “Poet Game” (with Anthony Hopkins), “Man Above Men” by David Hare, directed by Alan Clarke, “Secrets” by Micheal Palin & Terry Jones, Jack Rosenthal’s “The Evacuees”, Frederic Raphaels’ “The Glittering Prizes” and “Rogue Male” with Peter O’Toole and Harold Pinter, “Dr Watson and The Darkwater Hall Mystery” by Kinglsey Amis featuring Edward Fox, “Professional Foul” by Tom Stoppard, “She Fell Among Thieves” by Tom Sharpe, featuring Malcolm McDowell and Eileen Atkins, “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” by Tom Stoppard, featuring Ian McKellen and Ben Kingsley.

From 1980 Mark worked as a freelance producer, highlights including “What If It’s Raining?” by Anthony Minghella, “The Storyteller” directed by Jim Henson and written by Anthony Minghella for NBC (which won an Emmy and a Bafta), “The Borgias” TV series for the BBC, “Moonlighting” with Jeremy Irons, “A Private Function” by Alan Bennett, featuring Michael Palin and Maggie Smith, Peter Ransley’s “The Price”, and “The Witches” with Anjelica Houston.

He became Head of Drama at the BBC in 1988, where he acted as Executive Producer on Anthony Minghella’s “Truly Madly Deeply”, the Christopher Award Winning “Enchanted April”, “The Grass Arena” by Frank Deasy directed by Gillies Mackinnon, and “The Snapper” by Roddy Doyle directed by Stephen Frears (amongst others).

In 1993 Mark became the first head of BBC Films, where he executive produced over 20 feature films, including “Priest” directed by Antonia Bird, “An Awfully Big Adventure” directed by Mike Newell, “Small Faces”, Michael Winterbottom’s “Jude”, and “Hideous Kinky” featuring Kate Winslet.

In 1997 Mark formed independent production company Perpetual Motion Pictures, which produced Peter Moffat’s “The Cambridge Spies”, Alan Bennett’s “Talking Heads 2” and “Telling Tales”.

In 2006 he formed Headline Pictures with Stewart Mackinnon and Kevin Hood. During his time as the company’s Chairman Mark made invaluable contributions to the development of a range of film projects including QUARTET by Academy-Award-winner Ronald Harwood; REYKJAVIK by Kevin Hood and to be directed by Ridley Scott; INVISIBLE WOMAN written by Abi Morgan and based on Claire Tomalin’s book and PETER PAN IN SCARLET written by Academy-Award-nominee Jeffrey Caine.

Mark leaves behind his Civil Partner of eleven years Karun Thakar.

Awards and Nominations

3 Emmy Awards – The Evacuees, On Giant’s Shoulder’s, The Storyteller
5 Bafta Awards – The Six Wives Of Henry VIII, The Evacuees, Professional Foul, The Storyteller, Truly Madly Deeply
1 Prix Italia - The Six Wives Of Henry VIII
3 Christopher Awards – Abide With Me, On Giant’s Shoulder’s, Enchanted April
1 Peabody Award – Talking Heads 2

“The Witches” won 3 Best Actress Awards for Anjelica Houston – the BSFC Award, the LAFCA Award, and the NSFC Award, and was nominated for a Hugo, a Bafta, five Saturn Awards, and an International Fantasy Film Award.

“The Borgias” won an RTS TV Award for design, and was nominated for three Baftas.

“Truly Madly Deeply” won a Bafta for screenplay, three Evening Standard British Film Awards (for best actor, best actress, and most promising newcomer – Anthony Minghella), a Seattle International Film festival Award for best actor, a Writer’s Guild Of Great Britain Award for screenaply, and was nominated for 15 other awards (including Baftas for best actor and best actress.

“Hideous Kinky” won an Evening Standard British Film Awards for best technical artist.

“Cambridge Spies” was nominated for four Baftas (best graphic design, best photography, best production design, best sound) and a GLAAD Media Award for outstanding TV series.

“Priest” won a Berlin International Film Festival Award for best film, an Edinburgh International Film Festival award for Best New British Feature, and Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award.

“Moonlighting” won best screenplay at Cannes (and was nominated for a Golden Palm), and won best film at the Evening Standard British Film Awards.

“Enchanted April” won two Golden Globes for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, along with an NYFCC award for best supporting actress.

“The Grass Arena” won a Dinard British Film Festival award for directing, and was nominated for a Bafta for best single drama.

“A Private Function” won three Baftas (best actress, best supporting actor, and best supporting actress) along with being nominated for best film and best screenplay, and won an ALFS Award from the London Critics Cirlce Film Awards for screenwriting.

“The Snapper” won two Baftas (best film editor and best sound) and was nominated for best single drama. It won best TV comedy at the British Comedy Awards, an ALFS Award for screenwriting, a Prix Italia for Fiction, a people’s choice award at Toronto International Film Festival, along with receiving many nominations from other festivals.

“Small Faces” won a best new British feature award at Edinburgh International Film Festival, an a Tiger Award at Rotterdam International Film Festival, and was nominated for best writer at the Scottish Baftas.

“Jude” won Best New British Feature at Edinburgh International Film Awards, Best Actress Award at Evening Standard British Film Awards, and a olden Hitchcock for Directing at Dinard British Film Awards.

“Talking Heads 2” won a Bafta for Best Actress (and was nominated for Best Single Drama for 2 episodes), and won a Peabody Award.

“The Six Wives Of Henry VIII” won six Baftas – including a Special Award for Mark Shivas (and was nominated for four more awards). It won one Emmy for Best Actor (and was nominated for four more). It won a Prix Italia.

“Glittering Prizes” was nominated for two Baftas (including Best Drama Series for Mark Shivas), and won an RTS TV Award for Best Performance.

“Telford’s Change” won a Bafta for writing, and was nominated for Best Drama (for Mark Shivas) and best sound.

“The Price” was nominated for Best drama BAFTA (for Mark Shivas and Peter Smith).

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