Nigel Sinclair

Nigel Sinclair began his journey in England, where his time at Monkton Combe inspired a lasting passion for history and the arts under the guidance of teachers like Richard Blake. After graduating from Cambridge in 1969 with a degree in law and economics, he continued his studies at the Institute of Criminology before joining Denton, Hall & Burgin. In 1979, during a period of rising oil prices, he opened offices for the firm in Dubai and Sharjah, gaining valuable experience in solving complex business and legal challenges. This broadened his perspective and helped shape his approach to problem-solving. He later completed an LLM at Columbia University in New York, passed the California Bar exam, and established a Los Angeles branch of the firm, where he built both a long-term professional career and personal life.

By the early 1980s, he had become established in Los Angeles, gradually transitioning into entertainment law. He developed a strong roster of actors and directors as clients, and in 1989 co-founded Sinclair Tenenbaum & Co., which helped transform the international financing and distribution of independent films. Projects such as Hamlet, Braveheart, 1492, and Green Card showed how large-scale productions could succeed outside traditional studio systems.

In 1996, he moved from law to producing, co-founding Intermedia Films and delivering titles including Sliding Doors, Hilary and Jackie, The Wedding Planner, The Quiet American, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and Iris. After taking the company public in 2000, he co-founded Spitfire Pictures in 2003, producing music documentaries like Masked and Anonymous, Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who, and No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

He later founded Exclusive Media, producing films including Rush, End of Watch, Snitch, and Parkland. In 2014, he co-founded White Horse Pictures, producing acclaimed documentaries such as The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years, Pavarotti, The Apollo, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Lucy and Desi, Beach Boys, and Stax: Soulsville U.S.A..

His work has received Academy Awards, BAFTAs, Emmys, Grammys, and a CBE. With an enduring passion for storytelling and culture, Nigel Sinclair continues to create films that leave a meaningful legacy.