Number 9 Films
Number 9 Films is a London-based independent film production company co-founded in 2002 by producers Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, who had previously collaborated on projects at companies including Palace Pictures and Scala Productions.[1] The company has established a reputation for producing taste-driven, high-quality British cinema, often adapting literary works into period dramas and character-focused narratives, with notable credits including the romantic drama Carol (2015), directed by Todd Haynes and featuring six Academy Award nominations, and Youth (2015), directed by Paolo Sorrentino, which secured three European Film Awards.[1][2] Other significant productions encompass Their Finest (2016), a World War II-era comedy-drama; On Chesil Beach (2017), an adaptation of Ian McEwan's novel; and Colette (2018), a biographical film about the French author.[3] In recognition of their body of work, Karlsen and Woolley received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in 2019, reflecting the company's role in nurturing independent filmmaking amid an industry dominated by larger studios.[4] More recently, Number 9 Films launched a television division in 2024, backed by an investment from Beta Film, to extend its production scope beyond feature films.[5]History
Founding and Pre-2002 Background
Number 9 Films was incorporated on 30 January 2002 as a limited company in London, co-founded by producers Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen, who had collaborated professionally for over a decade prior.[6][1] The company's name draws inspiration from The Beatles' experimental track "Revolution 9" on their 1968 White Album, reflecting the founders' interest in innovative and culturally resonant storytelling.[7] Woolley and Karlsen, who married in 1990, formalized their independent production efforts under Number 9 after earlier ventures, aiming to focus on character-driven, auteur-led films often adapted from literary sources.[8] Stephen Woolley began his film career in the mid-1970s, working at a local arthouse cinema in London before entering distribution and production.[4] In 1982, he co-founded Palace Pictures with Nik Powell, initially as a video distribution outfit specializing in cult and international films, which expanded into theatrical releases and production.[9] Palace distributed titles such as Diva (1981) and produced successes including Scandal (1989), The Crying Game (1992), and Hardware (1990), but faced financial collapse in 1992 amid overexpansion and box-office underperformance.[10] Following Palace's demise, Woolley partnered with Powell again to establish Scala Productions in 1992, which yielded films like Backbeat (1994) and The Neon Bible (1995) before winding down.[7] Elizabeth Karlsen, born in New York City and holding dual American-British citizenship, joined Woolley's professional orbit during the Palace era, contributing to development and production on several projects.[8] Her involvement extended into Scala, where she honed skills in shepherding independent features through financing and international sales. By the late 1990s, the couple sought greater autonomy after navigating the instabilities of prior labels, leveraging Woolley's distribution expertise and Karlsen's literary adaptation acumen to launch Number 9 as a boutique outfit prioritizing quality over volume.[11] This pre-2002 foundation in hands-on production and risk-taking informed Number 9's ethos of backing directors like Neil Jordan and Mike Leigh on modestly budgeted, prestige-oriented works.[1]Growth and Key Milestones (2002–2015)
Following its establishment in 2002, Number 9 Films began production on key early projects, including Breakfast on Pluto (2005), directed by Neil Jordan and starring Cillian Murphy as a young Irish transvestite searching for her mother amid the Troubles, and Stoned (2005), Stephen Woolley's directorial debut chronicling the death of Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones.[12][1] These films marked the company's entry into character-driven independent cinema, leveraging Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen's prior collaborations with Jordan on earlier works.[13] The period saw steady growth through diverse outputs, such as How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008), a comedy adaptation starring Simon Pegg, and Made in Dagenham (2010), directed by Nigel Cole, which dramatized the 1968 equal pay strike by female Ford workers and earned four BAFTA nominations, including for Outstanding British Film.[14] In 2014, Made in Dagenham was adapted into a West End musical, extending the film's cultural impact beyond cinema.[1] By 2012, the company handled multiple releases, including Mike Newell's Great Expectations, a Dickens adaptation featuring Helena Bonham Carter, and Neil Jordan's vampire film Byzantium starring Saoirse Ronan, demonstrating expanded capacity for literary and genre projects.[15] A pivotal milestone came in 2015 with Carol, directed by Todd Haynes and starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara in a 1950s lesbian romance adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel, which secured six Academy Award nominations, including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.[16] The same year, Youth, Paolo Sorrentino's Cannes entry exploring aging artists with Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, further solidified Number 9's reputation for auteur-driven international co-productions.[17] These successes, amid a portfolio of over a dozen features, underscored the company's evolution into a prominent UK independent producer focused on prestige adaptations and socially resonant narratives.[11]Recent Expansion (2016–Present)
In 2016, Number 9 Films released Their Finest, a World War II-era drama directed by Lone Scherfig and starring Gemma Arterton, Sam Claflin, and Bill Nighy, which received two British Independent Film Award nominations.[1] The company followed with The Limehouse Golem later that year, a horror-mystery directed by Juan Carlos Medina featuring Bill Nighy and Olivia Cooke.[1] In 2018, it produced On Chesil Beach, Dominic Cooke's adaptation of Ian McEwan's novella starring Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle, alongside Colette, a biographical film directed by Wash Westmoreland with Keira Knightley in the title role, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned four British Independent Film Award nominations.[1][18] The company expanded its international reach in August 2019 through a first-look distribution agreement with Japanese studio Shochiku, granting the partner priority rights to theatrical releases of Number 9 Films' productions in Japan, targeting prestige dramas with strong female leads.[19][20] Subsequent releases included Mothering Sunday in 2021, directed by Eva Husson and featuring Odessa Young and Josh O'Connor, and Living in 2022, Oliver Hermanus's remake of Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru starring Bill Nighy, which garnered critical acclaim and multiple award nominations.[21] Founders Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema in February 2019, recognizing their role in sustaining independent British filmmaking.[22] Marking a strategic pivot, Number 9 Films launched a television division, Number 9 TV, in June 2024, securing an investment stake from Beta Film to develop scripted series; the unit is led by producer Kate Laffey and builds on prior TV development efforts, such as a 2020 deal to adapt Viv Albertine's memoirs.[5][22] This expansion coincides with high-profile upcoming features, including The Salt Path (slated for May 2025 release, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs), The Assessment (a 2025 sci-fi thriller with Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Olsen, whose international rights excluding Germany were acquired by Prime Video in September 2024), and A Pale View of Hills (an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's debut novel, entering production in August 2024).[21][22] These projects, premiered or announced at events like the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, underscore the company's sustained output of literary adaptations and genre films amid growing global partnerships.[22]Leadership and Key Personnel
Stephen Woolley
Stephen Woolley (born 3 September 1956) is an English film producer and director who co-founded Number 9 Films in 2002 alongside Elizabeth Karlsen, his longtime producing partner and wife.[23][1] The company's name draws inspiration from The Beatles' experimental track "Revolution 9."[7] Woolley's extensive prior experience in independent film production, including co-founding Palace Pictures in the 1980s and producing Oscar-nominated works like The Crying Game (1992), informed the establishment of Number 9 Films as a boutique outfit focused on literary adaptations and auteur-driven projects.[24][25] At Number 9 Films, Woolley has served as a primary producer on numerous critically acclaimed features, emphasizing high-caliber storytelling with directors such as Todd Haynes and Paolo Sorrentino. Key credits include Carol (2015), which earned six Academy Award nominations including for Best Actress (Cate Blanchett) and Best Supporting Actress (Rooney Mara); Youth (2015), nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; and literary adaptations like Their Finest (2016), Colette (2018), and On Chesil Beach (2017).[1][24] He made his directorial debut with Stoned (2005), a biopic of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones starring Leo Gregory and Paddy Considine, marking an early Number 9 production that explored rock history through a revisionist lens.[1] More recent efforts under his oversight include The Salt Path (2024), adapted from Raynor Winn's memoir and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, alongside The Assessment.[26] Woolley's leadership at Number 9 Films has garnered significant industry recognition, culminating in the 2019 BAFTA award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, shared with Karlsen, for their role in elevating British independent cinema through consistent production of award-contending films.[4] This accolade underscores the company's track record of over two decades, during which Woolley has prioritized collaborations yielding multiple Oscar, BAFTA, and European Film Award nominations while maintaining a focus on narrative depth over commercial blockbusters.[24]Elizabeth Karlsen
Elizabeth Karlsen is an American-British film producer who co-founded the independent production company Number 9 Films on May 2, 2002, with her husband and longtime collaborator Stephen Woolley.[1] Prior to this, she worked with Woolley at Palace Pictures, a prominent UK independent film distribution and production entity active in the 1980s and 1990s.[27] Karlsen began her professional career in New York City after earning a graduate degree in Critical Theory from the University of Sussex, where she initially produced short films before transitioning into feature-length projects.[4] As co-managing director of Number 9 Films, Karlsen has overseen the development and production of critically acclaimed independent films, emphasizing literary adaptations and director-driven narratives.[28] Key projects under her stewardship include the 2015 drama Carol, directed by Todd Haynes and adapted from Patricia Highsmith's novel, which earned six Academy Award nominations, including for Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.[1] She has been instrumental in fostering partnerships with international talent and financiers, contributing to the company's reputation for high-quality, awards-contending output.[29] Karlsen's leadership has helped Number 9 Films navigate the challenges of independent filmmaking, including securing funding from entities like Film4 and BBC Films while maintaining creative control.[26] In recent years, she has produced titles such as The Salt Path (2024), based on Raynor Winn's memoir, and The Assessment (2024), both of which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2024.[26] Her efforts were recognized when she and Woolley received the BAFTA for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema, announced on December 16, 2018, and awarded at the 2019 ceremony for their role in elevating British independent cinema.[4] Beyond production, Karlsen engages in industry mentorship and adjudication, serving on the official competition jury for the 2025 BFI London Film Festival, announced on October 1, 2025.[30] Her approach prioritizes long-term development, as evidenced by the 14-year journey to realize Carol from acquisition to release in 2015.[31]Other Notable Contributors
Claudia Yusef served as head of development at Number 9 Films from May 2018 until December 2018, overseeing script evaluation and project nurturing during a period that included the production of Colette. Prior to her appointment, Yusef had experience as a development executive at 42 Management & Production and as talent development executive for the Scottish Film Talent Network, part of BFI NETWORK.[32][33][34] To support its expansion into television, Number 9 Films launched Number 9 TV in June 2024 through a joint venture with Beta Film, appointing Kate Laffey as head of TV. Laffey, formerly at Paramount Television International, focused on developing high-end scripted series until her departure to Fifth Season in June 2025, where she became head of acquisitions.[5][35][36] The company's lean structure relies heavily on the founders, supplemented by rotating specialists in development and legal affairs, such as former officers Ceri Hughes and Katharine Julia Lawrence listed in Companies House records. These roles have facilitated key partnerships and project advancements without a large permanent executive team.[37]Productions
Feature Films
Number 9 Films specializes in independent feature films, often adapting literary works or exploring character-driven dramas, with a portfolio that includes both pre-2002 productions by founders Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley and post-founding projects.[1] The company's output emphasizes British and international co-productions, garnering critical acclaim and awards nominations, such as six Academy Award nods for Carol (2015).[1] Notable successes include The Crying Game (1992), which won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and Living (2022), a remake of Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru that earned Bill Nighy a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.[1] [21] The following table lists key feature films produced or co-produced by Number 9 Films since 2002, organized chronologically, highlighting their focus on period pieces, biographical tales, and social commentaries.[21]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Intermission | Irish crime comedy-drama. |
| 2004 | Ladies in Lavender | Romantic drama starring Maggie Smith and Judi Dench. |
| 2004 | Return to Sender | Thriller directed by Bille August. |
| 2005 | Stoned | Biographical film about Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones. |
| 2006 | Breakfast on Pluto | Neil Jordan-directed adaptation of Patrick McCabe's novel, earning four BAFTA nominations. |
| 2006 | Mrs. Harris | TV movie-style biopic, though classified as feature-length production. |
| 2007 | And When Did You Last See Your Father? | Biographical drama based on Blake Morrison's memoir. |
| 2008 | How to Lose Friends & Alienate People | Comedy satirizing magazine publishing. |
| 2009 | Sounds Like Teen Spirit | Documentary-style mockumentary on Eurovision. |
| 2010 | Perrier's Bounty | Irish gangster thriller. |
| 2010 | Made in Dagenham | Drama about the 1968 Ford Dagenham strike, nominated for four BAFTAs. |
| 2012 | Midnight's Children | Salman Rushdie adaptation directed by Deepa Mehta. |
| 2012 | Great Expectations | Dickens adaptation starring Helena Bonham Carter. |
| 2013 | Byzantium | Gothic vampire film by Neil Jordan. |
| 2015 | Hyena | Crime thriller. |
| 2015 | Carol | Todd Haynes-directed adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's novel, with six Oscar nominations.[1] |
| 2016 | Youth | Paolo Sorrentino's drama starring Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel, Oscar-nominated for Best Original Song.[1] |
| 2017 | Their Finest | WWII propaganda film comedy-drama. |
| 2017 | The Limehouse Golem | Victorian mystery thriller. |
| 2018 | On Chesil Beach | Ian McEwan adaptation starring Saoirse Ronan. |
| 2018 | Colette | Biographical drama on the French writer, premiered at Sundance.[1] |
| 2021 | Mothering Sunday | Eva Husson-directed literary adaptation. |
| 2022 | Living | Oliver Hermanus's remake, BAFTA winner for Best British Film. |
| 2025 | The Assessment | Upcoming dystopian drama. |
| 2025 | The Salt Path | Adaptation starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs (May release). |
Television Productions
In June 2024, Number 9 Films established Number 9 TV as a dedicated television production subsidiary in partnership with Beta Film, which took a minority stake to support development and production of scripted series.[5] The venture, aimed at creating premium drama for international broadcasters and platforms, appointed Kate Laffey, formerly co-head of scripted originals at Paramount Television International Studios UK, as head of TV to oversee the slate.[38] However, Laffey departed the role in June 2025 to become senior vice president of acquisitions at Fifth Season.[39] Prior to the formal launch of Number 9 TV, the company had explored television adaptations, including acquiring rights in September 2020 to develop punk musician Viv Albertine's memoirs—Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Money, Money, Money. Art, Art, Art. How Hard Can It Be? (2014) and To Throw Away Unopened (2018)—into a series, in collaboration with producer Rachael Horovitz's West Fourth Films.[40] [41] The project, focusing on Albertine's life as guitarist for The Slits and her personal experiences, remains in development without a confirmed production timeline or broadcaster attachment. Number 9 Films had also considered other TV projects, such as an adaptation of Henry James's The Portrait of a Lady, though none advanced to production.[42] As of October 2025, Number 9 Films has no completed television series or miniseries credited to its productions, reflecting its primary focus on feature films since founding in 2002.[21] The expansion into television represents a strategic diversification, leveraging the company's track record in literary adaptations and period dramas to target the global scripted market.[35]Awards and Recognition
Major Accolades
In recognition of their leadership at Number 9 Films, founders Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema on February 10, 2019, during the 72nd British Academy Film Awards ceremony.[4] This honor acknowledged the company's production of 11 feature films since 2002, which collectively earned 23 Academy Award nominations and seven BAFTA nominations.[4] Among these, Carol (2015) stands out, securing six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Cate Blanchett, Best Supporting Actress for Rooney Mara, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.[1] The film also received nine BAFTA nominations, encompassing Outstanding British Film, Best Actress for Blanchett, and Best Supporting Actress for Mara.[1] No wins resulted from these bids, but Carol's critical reception underscored Number 9 Films' focus on prestige adaptations.[4] Other notable entries include Made in Dagenham (2010), nominated for three BAFTAs, including Outstanding British Film, and Colette (2018), which earned four British Independent Film Award nominations.[1] Productions like Their Finest (2016) garnered two BIFA nominations, reflecting consistent acclaim in independent British cinema circuits, though major competitive wins for individual titles remain limited beyond nominations.[1]Commercial Performance
Number 9 Films' feature films have collectively grossed $193,147,678 worldwide across 15 releases, with domestic earnings of $33,027,115 primarily from North America and international totals of $160,120,563. This yields an average worldwide gross of $12,876,512 per film, reflecting a focus on independent productions rather than high-budget blockbusters.[43] The company's highest-grossing title is Carol (2015), which earned $12,711,491 domestically and $29,196,287 internationally for a worldwide total of $41,907,778. Other strong performers include Youth (2015) at $24,001,573 worldwide and The Salt Path (2024), which achieved $17,609,060 in international markets as of early 2025 and was described by producer Stephen Woolley as Number 9's most successful film to date, driven by robust distributor performance in territories like the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.[43][44]| Film | Release Year | Domestic Gross | International Gross | Worldwide Gross |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carol | 2015 | $12,711,491 | $29,196,287 | $41,907,778 |
| Youth | 2015 | $2,703,296 | $21,298,277 | $24,001,573 |
| The Salt Path | 2024 | $0 | $17,609,060 | $17,609,060 |
| Colette | 2018 | $5,126,985 | $10,783,198 | $15,910,183 |
| Their Finest | 2017 | $3,603,484 | $10,203,605 | $13,807,089 |