Carnival Films - television, film and theatre production

Production News - Downton Abbey II
ITV have recomissioned Downton Abbey for a second series
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Production News - Any Human Heart
Any Human Heart DVD is now available.
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Carnival is one of the UK’s leading independent drama producers.

Founded by Brian Eastman in 1978, as Picture Partnership Productions Ltd, Carnival Films has produced over 500 hours of popular drama and comedy for television, cinema and theatre. Its work in both the UK and the United States has attracted more than 70 national and international awards and nominations, including Oscars, Emmys, BAFTAs, Royal Television Society, Olivier, TONY Awards and Golden Globes. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s Carnival spearheaded independent drama production in the UK.

In 2004 Gareth Neame joined the company as Managing Director and the company has since gone through a dynamic period of change with the solid bedrock of a strong library of drama productions complementing some exciting new quality drama commissions with popular and international appeal. Brian Eastman left the company in 2006 and in 2007 Sally Woodward Gentle joined the company as Creative Director. In 2008 Carnival was acquired by the global entertainment company NBC Universal as the first part of its expansion into international television production. The first production aired under NBCUniversal was globe trotting action drama ‘The Philanthropist’ for NBC.

Carnival has been commissioned by all the major UK broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, and in addition to NBC, other US broadcasters have commissioned Carnival projects including PBS, HBO, TNT and the A&E Network.

Carnival is always exploring new ideas with the key drama commissioners and this is reflected in the diversity and success of its output, from the critically acclaimed DOWNTON ABBEY, to other returning series WHITECHAPEL, award winning mini series ANY HUMAN HEART, TRAFFIK, THE GRID, MIDNIGHT MAN and PORTERHOUSE BLUE, the long running HOTEL BABYLON, POIROT, AS IF, JEEVES & WOOSTER and ROSEMARY and THYME, to celebrated feature films and single dramas such as PAGE EIGHT, ENID and SHADOWLANDS.

In 2011 Carnival was recognised at Televisual Magazines Bulldog Awards as Best UK Production Company. Following this success Carnival was named Best Production Company category at the 2012 Broadcast Awards.