Adrian Politowski

Adrian Politowski né Murshid^[1] (born October 1978)^[2] is a BAFTA-nominated^[3] Swedish film producer, fund manager, and entrepreneur. He co-founded and was CEO of Umedia from 2004 to 2019.^[4] He currently is the Executive Chairman of the production and financing group Align that he co-founded and ran as CEO (2019–2024). His career is focused on three areas:

• Entrepreneurship as a co-founder and CEO of both Umedia and Align, as well as board of director member of Goodbye Kansas Group (listed at NASDAQ First North)^[5] and the health-tech startup Nordic Executive Medicine.^[6]
• Media with 500 film & TV productions credited as producer^[4][7]
• Finance with €650M ($730M) raised, managed and deployed in media financing^[4][7]

Adrian Politowski
Born	Adrian Murshid October 1978 (age 46) Stockholm, Sweden
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, Film Producer, Business Man
Years active	2004–present
Known for	Umedia Align Pictures
Spouse	Nadia Khamlichi (divorced)
Partner	Amanda Gyllensparv (2020-present)
Children	1

He has produced and financed films such as the five-time Academy Awards winner The Artist (2011),^[8] Good Luck to You, Leo Grande^[9] (2022) (Four-time nominated at BAFTA and premiered at Sundance Film 2022), Grace of Monaco (2014) starring Nicole Kidman,^[10] (Official Selection and opening film of the 2014 Cannes Film Festival), Mandy (2018) starring Nicolas Cage that premiered on Sundance Film Festival 2018,^[11] Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (2022) starring Samuel L Jackson, Michael Cera and Ricky Gervais,^[12] animation feature Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be (2022).^[13] that premièred as the Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival 2022,^[14] won the Cristal Award at Annecy Animation Film Festival,^[15] and was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Independent Feature Film^[16] and The Pod Generation (2023)^[17] starring Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor and premiered in Sundance Film Festival (2023).^[18] He also produced the HBO TV series My Brilliant Friend.

Personal life

Politowski was born in Stockholm, Sweden.^[19] His birth name is Murshid,^[1] and he is of Polish and Bangladeshi descent.^[19] On the paternal side, he is the grandson of Nurjahan Murshid and Khan Sarwar Murshid. On the maternal side, he is the grandson of Mieczyslaw Politowski.

Politowski attended Oxford University / Somerville College from 1996, receiving a Master of Engineering in 2000 (First Class). Staying on at University of Oxford (St. Peter's College), he obtained his second Master's aged 23 - a Master of Philosophy in Economics in 2002.^[1]

Politowski married fellow producer Nadia Khamlichi. Together with his ex-wife, they have one son, born 2012.^[1] Adrian is currently with Swedish model/influencer Amanda Gyllensparv.^[20] He "currently splits his time between Los Angeles, Brussels and Stockholm".^[21]

Career

Politowski and his partners Nadia Khamlichi (his ex-wife) and Jeremy Burdek founded Motion Investment Group in 2004 in Brussels, Belgium. In 2010, the group rebranded as Umedia (formerly stylized uMedia), with business divisions of "uFund (fundraising), uFilm (production and investment), uDream (distribution) and uFX (visual effects)."

At his departure from Umedia, the group had grown into a $100M+ turnover international production group with 200 staff. From 2004 onto 2020, it had raised and financed over $630M, produced over 400films and its VFX division has grown into the largest in Benelux.^[4]

In 2019, Politowski and Khamlichi co-founded and launched the production company Align, resigned as CEO and sold his remaining stake in Umedia in 2020.^[22]

In 2025, Screen revealed that it had raised a new $120M fund to be deployed over coming years in film & tv productions.^[23]

Politowski is currently on the Board of Directors of the gaming/VFX company and tech group Goodbye Kansas since 2022 (publicly traded on NASDAQ First North),^[24] is a member of the advisory board of WIFTI (Women in Film and TV International)^[25][26] and is Chairman of Nordic Executive Medicine.^[27]

Selected filmography

See also: Umedia § Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Refs[28]
2008	Asterix at the Olympic Games	Co-producer		[29]
2010	Outside the Law	Co-producer		[30]
2011	Artist	Co-producer		[8]
2011	A Monster in Paris	Co-producer		[31]
2012	Erased	Producer		[32]
2012	What's in a Name?	Co-producer		[33]
2012	Blancanieves	Executive producer		[34]
2013	Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart	Co-producer		[35]
2013	Me, Myself and Mum	Co-producer		[36]
2014	Grace of Monaco	Co-producer		[37]
2014	La Famille Bélier	Co-producer		[19]
2014	Yves Saint-Laurent	Co-producer		[38]
2017	Le Brio	Co-producer		[39]
2017	Revenge	Co-producer		[40]
2017	Journey's End	Executive Producer		[41]
2017	What Happened to Monday	Co-producer		[42]
2017	I Kill Giants	Producer		[43]
2018	Swimming with Men	Executive Producer		[44]
2018	Mandy	Producer		[45]
2019	Guns Akimbo	Executive Producer		[46]
2019	Le Belle Epoque	Co-producer		[47]
2019	Fisherman's Friends	Executive Producer		[48]
2019	Extra Ordinary	Executive Producer		[49]
2019	The Mustang	Producer		[50]
2018–2020	My Brilliant Friend	Co-producer	TV series, seasons 1-2	[51]
2020	Rogue City	Executive Producer		[52]
2020	Blithe Spirit	Producer		[53]
2022	Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank	Executive Producer		[54][55]
2022	Good Luck to You, Leo Grande	Producer		[56]
2022	Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be	Producer		[13]
2023	The Pod Generation	Executive Producer		[57]
2023	The Inventor	Producer		[58]
2024	Magpie (film)	Executive Producer		[59]
2024	Sting (film)	Executive Producer		[60]
2024	Kensuke's Kingdom (film)	Producer		[61]
2025	Jimpa	Executive Producer		[62]
2025	The Thing with Feathers (film)	Executive Producer		[63]

References

1. Cooke, Liz, ed. (2012). "Somerville College Report – 11–12". Somerville College. p. 70, members news; 73, births. Retrieved 27 January 2022 – via Issuu.
2. "Umedia Entertainment LTD. - Company Profile". Brokers Navigator.
3. "2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards: The Nominations". www.bafta.org. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
4. Tartaglione, Nancy (2019-06-24). "Adrian Politowski Exits Umedia To Form Align; LA-Based Production & Finance Venture Has $150M Fund". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
5. "Corporate Governance". Goodbye Kansas Group. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
6. "Nordic Executive Medicine AB i Uppsala – Info | Ratsit". www.ratsit.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-02-09.
7. Sacré, Jean-François (26 May 2024). "Align, le "petit belge" qui co-finance le cinéma anlo-saxon". L'Echo.
8. "The Artist - filming locations". SCEEN IT. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
9. "GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE". Searchlight Pictures. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
10. Roxborough, Scott (2013-05-15). "Cannes: uMedia CEO Adrian Politowski on Nicole Kidman's 'Grace of Monaco' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
11. Moloshok, Danny (8 August 2019). "2018 Sundance Film Festival - "Mandy" Premiere". The Advocate. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
12. P, Maddie (2022-07-16). "'Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank' Cast and Character Guide: Who's Who in the Animated Comedy". Collider. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
13. "Little Nicholas - Happy as Can Be (Le petit Nicolas - Qu'est-ce qu'on attend pour être heureux ?)". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
14. "Review: Little Nicholas – Happy as Can Be". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
15. Kay, Jeremy (2022-12-09). "Annecy winner 'Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be' scores Buffalo 8 US deal (exclusive)". Retrieved 2023-02-08.
16. "2023 Annie Award Nominations". Oscars Central. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
17. "The Pod Generation". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
18. "The Pod Generation | Sundance Film Festival 2023". Retrieved 2023-02-08.
19. Keslassy, Elsa (4 February 2015). "Umedia Aims for Further Expansion in Second Decade". Variety. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
20. "Amanda Gyllensparv". 26 May 2022.
21. "Team". Align Group. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
22. "Align | Our Story". Align 2.0. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
23. Macnab2025-01-27T12:24:00+00:00, Geoffrey. "Align raises $120m Take Two fund to invest in international film and TV (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 2025-02-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
24. "Corporate Governance". Goodbye Kansas Group. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
25. "Heavyweight players to debate Inclusion and Diversity at Carla Conference". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
26. "WIFTI Introduces Rebate System for Gender-Balanced Projects at Berlinale". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
27. "Nordic Executive Medicine AB i Uppsala – Info | Ratsit". www.ratsit.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 2022-09-07.
28. "Adrian Politowski". December 17, 2013 – via Variety.
29. "Three domestic co-productions hit screens". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
30. Lodderhose, Diana (2010-05-12). "Belgian fund offers new services". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
31. Kemp, Stuart (2012-05-09). "Belgium's uMedia Inks Deal With Holland's A-Film". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
32. Harvey, Dennis (15 May 2013). "Film Review: 'Erased'". Variety. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
33. Hoeij, Boyd van (2012-07-27). "What's in a Name?". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
34. "Blancanieves". Inlander. 2013-07-12. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
35. Debruge, Peter (2014-03-17). "Film Review: 'Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
36. Debruge, Peter (2013-10-12). "Film Review: 'Me, Myself and Mum'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
37. Adrian Politowski (15 May 2013). "Cannes: uMedia CEO Adrian Politowski on Nicole Kidman's 'Grace of Monaco' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter (Interview). Interviewed by Scott Roxborough. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
38. "Yves Saint Laurent Movie Review (2014) - Rating, Cast & Crew With Synopsis". nettv4u. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
39. "Le Brio". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
40. "Cast – Revenge". Kinorium. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
41. Busch, Anita (2017-11-13). "'Journey's End' Acquired By Good Deed Entertainment, Will Debut In U.S. In 2018". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
42. "Nouvelle - What Happened to Monday : Featuring Original Music Composed By Christian Wibe". mulderville.net. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
43. Collis, Clark (8 September 2017). "I Kill Giants: A misfit teen hunts monsters in new clip". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
44. Scheck, Frank (2018-12-04). "'Swimming With Men': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
45. Defore, John (28 January 2018). "'Mandy': Film Review – Sundance 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
46. Hamman, Cody (2018-07-09). "Howden and Weaving share BTS images from the set of Guns Akimbo". JoBlo. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
47. "Review – 'La Belle Époque'". into:screens. 2020-08-11. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
48. "Fisherman's Friends (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
49. "'Extra Ordinary': Film Review | SXSW 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. 2019-03-15. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
50. "2019 Film Fest Ghent: Matthias Schoenaerts, filmmaker Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre and "The Mustang"". Retrieved 2023-02-09.
51. Woods, Maggie (2020). "My Brilliant Friend Series 2: The Story Of A New Name | Review by Maggie Woods". MotorBar.
52. "Cast – Rogue City". Kinorium. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
53. "Blithe Spirit - Cast & Crew Credits". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
54. Tartaglione, Nancy (August 7, 2020). "'Blazing Samurai': Adrian Politowski's Align Boards Production Financing On Feature Toon". Deadline Hollywood.
55. Dudok de Wit, Alex. "Paramount Will Release Aniventure's 'Blazing Samurai' On July 22". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
56. Ramachandran, Naman (2021-10-11). "Emma Thompson's 'Good Luck to You, Leo Grande' Acquired by Lionsgate U.K." Variety. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
57. Gleiberman, Owen (2023-01-20). "'The Pod Generation' Review: Emilia Clarke and Chiwetel Ejiofor Anchor a Winning Sci-Fi Satire of Pregnancy Gone Dystopian". Variety. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
58. Flam, Charna (2023-07-10). "Blue Fox Entertainment Acquires Stop-Motion Feature 'The Inventor' Starring Daisy Ridley, Marion Cotillard and Matt Berry". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
59. Gleiberman, Owen (2024-03-10). "'Magpie' Review: Daisy Ridley in a Thriller About Motherhood, Loneliness and a Husband with a Fatal Attraction". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
60. Gleiberman, Owen (2024-04-12). "'Sting' Review: A Giant Spider Grows in Brooklyn in a Knowingly Cheeseball Indie Horror Trifle". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
61. Dalton, Ben (2023-06-12). ""It worked in our favour": How UK's Lupus Films made Annecy premiere 'Kensuke's Kingdom' during two lockdowns". Screen. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
62. "Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Star in Sophie Hyde's New Project JIMPA - Media centre". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
63. The Thing with Feathers. IMDb. Retrieved 2024-06-24.

External links

• Adrian Politowski at IMDb