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'{{Short description|Tunisian-French film producer}} {{BLP sources|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Tarak Ben Ammar | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1949|6|12|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Film producer | known for = | education = | alma_mater = [[Georgetown University]] }} '''Tarak Ben Ammar''' ({{langx|ar|طارق بن عمّار}}; born June 12, 1949) is a Tunisian-French [[film producer]] and [[Film distributor|distributor]]. He is famous for his interest in artistic movies, especially when they are related to [[Mediterranean]] culture or require [[North Africa]]n locations. His producing credits include the [[Franco Zeffirelli]] film adaptation of ''[[La traviata (1983 film)|La Traviata]]'', [[Claude Chabrol]]'s ''[[Death Rite]]'', and [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]]'s ''[[Black Gold (2011 Qatari film)]]''. Ben Ammar became well-known in [[France]], at the beginning of 2004, when he decided to distribute ''[[The Passion of The Christ]]'' after everybody else declined. He appeared on television [[talk show]]s, defending the movie. He is also known as the advisor of international investor [[Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdul Aziz]], and French businessman [[Vincent Bolloré]].<ref name="videoageinternational">{{cite web|url=http://www.videoageinternational.com/articles/2003/11/article1.html |title=Tarak Ben Ammar: The Great Negotiator |publisher=Videoageinternational.com |date= |access-date=2011-08-25}}</ref> He was formerly a manager of [[Michael Jackson]]'s [[HIStory World Tour]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/leute/spekulationen-ueber-arznei-ueberdosis-familie-und-freunde-geben-aerzten-mitschuld-an-jacksons-tod-a-632788.html|title=Spekulationen über Arznei-Überdosis: Familie und Freunde geben Ärzten Mitschuld an Jacksons Tod|date=2009-06-26|work=Spiegel Online|access-date=2018-07-09}}</ref> == Early years == Tarak Ben Ammar was born in [[1949]] in [[Tunis]], to a political family in [[Tunisia]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Famille Ben Ammar |date=2024-08-06 |work=Wikipédia |url=https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famille_Ben_Ammar |access-date=2025-01-06 |language=fr}}</ref> who fought for and [[Tunisian independence|gained independence from France in 1956]], and where his uncle<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-01-10 |title=Tarak Ben Ammar, l'arme anti-Netflix de Bolloré |url=https://www.lejdd.fr/Culture/Tarak-Ben-Ammar-l-arme-anti-Netflix-de-Bollore-767713 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=lejdd.fr |language=fr}}</ref> [[Habib Bourguiba]] became [[President of Tunisia|the first President of Tunisia]]. After studies in [[Rome]] and graduating from<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Producer wants to make Tunisia Africa&#039;s film capital;NEWLN:UPI Arts &amp; Entertainment -- Scott&#039;s World - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/07/26/Producer-wants-to-make-Tunisia-Africas-film-capitalNEWLNUPI-Arts-Entertainment-Scotts-World/4119522734400/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> [[Georgetown University|Georgetown University in Washington]], Tarak Ben Ammar started his career as [[film producer]]<ref name=":0" />. == Career == Tarak Ben Ammar forged a successful career as a film producer<ref>{{Cite web |title=‘We’re going to develop local culture, local talent, build the emerging film industry of Saudi Arabia,’ says Hollywood producer Tarak Ben Ammar |url=https://www.arabnews.jp/en/features/article_109723/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Arab News Japan |language=en}}</ref>, working on [[George Lucas]]’ [[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]], [[Steven Spielberg]]’s [[Raiders of the Lost Ark]], [[Franco Zeffirelli]]’s [[Jesus of Nazareth (TV series)|Jesus of Nazareth]], and [[La Traviata (1982 film)|La Traviata]], [[Monty Python's Life of Brian|Monthy Python’s Life of Brian]], [[Roman Polanski]]’s [[Pirates (1986 film)|Pirates]], and [[Mel Gibson]]’s [[The Passion of the Christ|Passion of the Christ]]. He created the film industry in Tunisia by building the first film studios which have attracted 58 films<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-11-25 |title=Les mille et une vies de Tarak Ben Ammar |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/m-styles/article/2011/11/25/les-mille-et-une-vies-de-tarak-ben-ammar_1608525_4497319.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |language=fr}}</ref>. He produced all his films through French companies Carthago Films, and [[Quinta Communications]]. In [[1984]], French President [[François Mitterrand]] awarded him the<ref>{{Citation |title=Catégorie:Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur décoré en 1984 |date=2022-07-20 |work=Wikipédia |url=https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%C3%A9gorie:Chevalier_de_la_L%C3%A9gion_d'honneur_d%C3%A9cor%C3%A9_en_1984 |access-date=2025-01-06 |language=fr}}</ref> [[Legion of Honour|Légion d'Honneur]] in recognition of his contribution to cinema. Tarak Ben Ammar is also a businessman<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2011-11-25 |title=Les mille et une vies de Tarak Ben Ammar |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/m-styles/article/2011/11/25/les-mille-et-une-vies-de-tarak-ben-ammar_1608525_4497319.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |language=fr}}</ref>, he has served as an advisor to [[Rupert Murdoch]], [[Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud|Prince Al Waleed]], [[Leo Kirch]], [[Vincent Bolloré]]<ref name=":1" /> and [[Silvio Berlusconi]] and has been board member of companies such as [[Mediaset]], [[Mediobanca]], [[TIM Group|Telecom Italia]] and [[Vivendi]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramsay |first=Derek |date=2017-09-26 |title=Tarak Ben Ammar |url=https://variety.com/exec/tarak-ben-ammar/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Variety |language=en}}</ref>. He has also been Michael Jackson’s manager from 1996 to 1998 and was the producer of his last worldwide tour, Michael Jackson’s HiStory Tour<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loupien |first=Serge |title=«Michael? Un garçon simple». Tarak Ben Ammar est le nouveau manager de Jackson. |url=https://www.liberation.fr/culture/1997/06/27/michael-un-garcon-simple-tarak-ben-ammar-est-le-nouveau-manager-de-jackson_208594/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref>. In [[2009]], Tarak Ben Ammar officially launched [[Nessma El Jadida|Nessma]], the first North African independent TV Channel which plays a key role in promoting freedom of speech and democracy in Tunisia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Variety |date=2010-05-07 |title=Nessma TV programs for change |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/nessma-tv-programs-for-change-1118018962/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>. Nessma is also the leading channel in [[North Africa]]. He also controls [[Eagle Pictures]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gagliardi |first=Pino |date=2023-08-03 |title=Tarak Ben Ammar on His Big Italian Job(s) and Why He Owes His Career to Roberto Rossellini |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/tarak-ben-ammar-italian-studio-rome-1235550118/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>, which is Italy’s number one independent film distribution and production company with a library of 3500 films. Tarak Ben Ammar also formed a US [[Venture capital|venture]] called [[Spyglass Media Group]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2021-07-15 |title=Lionsgate Takes 20% Of Spyglass Media, Most Of Its 200-Title Library In Broad Strategic Partnership Including First Look Television Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/lionsgate-spyglass-media-acquires-most-of-its-200-title-library-library-1234794032/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>. [[Spyglass Media Group|Spyglass]] announced a strategic partnership with [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]] and other important US partners<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=2019-04-16 |title=Warner Bros. Invests in Spyglass Media |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/warner-bros-invests-in-spyglass-media-1203190618/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>, such as [[Lionsgate Entertainment]]<ref name=":2" />. In 2022, Tarak Ben Ammar acquired with [[Lantern Entertainment]] and his company [[Eagle Pictures]], [[Cité du Cinéma|Studios de Paris]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tarak Ben Ammar Finalizes Acquisition of Studios of Paris, Home of ‘Emily in Paris’ (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://www.lanternent.com/press/tarak-ben-ammar-finalizes-acquisition-of-studios-of-paris-home-of-emily-in-paris-exclusive |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Lantern Entertainment |language=en-US}}</ref>, the largest movie studio in Paris<ref>{{Cite web |title=A propos {{!}} Studios de Paris |url=http://lesstudiosdeparis.com/fr/a-propos |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=A propos {{!}} Studios de Paris |language=fr}}</ref>. In 2023, his company Eagle Pictures has enlarged its strategic alliance with [[Sony Pictures]] by becoming the exclusive [[Film distributor|distributor]] of [[Sony Pictures]] in [[Italy]]<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=2022-11-01 |title=Sony, Tarak Ben Ammar’s Eagle Pictures Ink Distribution, Co-Production Pact |url=https://variety.com/2022/global/global/sony-eagle-pictures-distribution-italy-pact-1235420436/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>. Eagle Pictures is also the exclusive distributor of [[Paramount Pictures]] in [[Italy]]<ref name=":3" />. In the same time, Tarak Ben Ammar with [[Eagle Pictures]], has announced the building of a new [[film studio]] in [[Rome]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=2023-08-01 |title=Tarak Ben Ammar Expands Italy Operations by Buying Unscripted Outfit Blu Yazmine, Enters Talks to Build Rome Studios (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/tarak-ben-ammar-italy-blu-yazmine-unscripted-rome-studios-1235683256/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>. Tarak Ben Ammar has built a [[Mass media|media company]] operating in [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Tunisia]], [[United Kingdom|UK]], and in the [[United States|USA]], it has partnerships with famous [[Companies of the United States with untaxed profits|US companies]] such as [[Sony Pictures]], [[Paramount Pictures]], [[Warner Bros.|Warner Bros]] and Lionsgate. == Private life == Tarak Ben Ammar is the son of [[:fr:Mondher_Ben_Ammar|Mondher Ben Ammar]], Tunisian [[lawyer]], [[politician]] and [[diplomat]], and [[Corsicans|Corsican]] mother [https://www.businessnews.com.tn/biographie-de-tarak-ben-ammar,525,14646,1 Simone Gaggeri]. He is the brother of writer [[Hélé Béji]]. His aunt [[Wassila Bourguiba|Wassila Ben Ammar]] was the [[First Lady of Tunisia]] as the wife of the first [[President of Tunisia]], [[Habib Bourguiba]]. Tarak Ben Ammar has a first son, [https://www.imdb.com/fr/name/nm9547301/ Jad Ben Amma]r, [[film producer]], and three children from his marriage to Polish actress [https://www.filmweb.pl/person/Beata+Ben+Ammar-183829/filmography Beata] (born Sonczuk), Neil, Tarak Jr. and his model-singer daughter [[Sonia Ben Ammar|Sonia Ben Amma]]<nowiki/>r (Sonia Ammar). == Filmography == === Producer === * [[1976 in film|1976]]: ''[[Les Magiciens]]'' by [[Claude Chabrol]] * [[1977 in film|1977]]: ''[[Jesus of Nazareth (TV series)]]''by [[Franco Zeffirelli]] * [[1979 in film|1979]]: ** ''[[Il ladrone|Le Larron]]'' by [[Pasquale Festa Campanile]] ** ''[[L'Adolescente]]'' by [[Jeanne Moreau]] * [[1981 in film|1981]]: ''[[:fr:Tais-toi_quand_tu_parles|Tais-toi quand tu parles]]'' by [[Philippe Clair]] * [[1982 in film|1982]]: ** ''[[La Traviata (1982 film)|La Traviata]]'' by [[Franco Zeffirelli]] ** ''[[Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ]]'' by [[Jean Yanne]] ** ''[[:fr:Plus_beau_que_moi,_tu_meurs|Plus beau que moi,tu meurs]]'' by [[Philippe Clair]] * [[1984 in film|1984]]: ** ''[[:fr:Les_Cavaliers_de_l'orage|Les Cavaliers de l'orage]]'' by [[:fr:Gérard_Vergez|Gérard Vergez]] ** ''[[Par où t'es rentré ? On t'a pas vu sortir]]'' by [[Philippe Clair]] ** ''[[Misunderstood (1983 film)|Misunderstood]]'' by [[Jerry Schatzberg]] * [[1985 in film|1985]]: ** ''[[:fr:Bras_de_fer_(film)|Bras de fer]]'' by [[:fr:Gérard_Vergez|Gérard Vergez]] ** ''[[A.D. (miniseries)]]'' by [[Stuart Cooper]] * [[1986 in film|1986]]: ''[[Pirates (1986 film)|Pirates]]'' by [[Roman Polanski]] * [[1988 in film|1988]]: ''[[Young Toscanini]]'' (''[[Il giovane Toscanini]]'') by [[Franco Zeffirelli]] * [[1989 in film|1989]]: ''[[:fr:Bille_en_tête_(film)|Bille en tête]]'' by [[:fr:Carlo_Cotti|Carlo Cotti]] * [[1991 in film|1991]]: ** ''[[:fr:L'Autre_(film,_1991)|L'Autre]]'' by [[Bernard Giraudeau]] ** ''[[Mayrig]]'' by [[Henri Verneuil]] * [[1992 in film|1992]]: [[Sand Screens|''Sand Screens'']] by [[Randa Chahal Sabag|Randa Chahal Sabbagh]] * [[1994 in film|1994]]: ** ''[[Deadly Voyage|Voyage]]'' by [[John Mackenzie (film director)|John Mackenzie]] ** [[Foreign Student]] by [[Eva Sereny]] * [[2001 in film|2001]]: ** [[Boys on the Run (Film 2001)]] by [[Pol Cruchten]] ** {{lang|it|[[I cavalieri che fecero l'impresa]]}} by [[Pupi Avati]] * [[2002 in film|2002]]: ** [[Femme Fatale (2002 film)|Femme fatale]] by [[Brian De Palma]] ** ''[[Mafia Love]]'' (''Avenging Angelo'') by [[Martyn Burke]] ** ''[[Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever|Ballistic]]'' by [[Wych Kaosayananda]] * [[2005 in film|2005]]: ''[[Chromophobia (film)|Chromophobia]]'' by [[Martha Fiennes]] * [[2007 in film|2007]]: ** ''[[Hannibal Lecter (franchise)|Hannibal Lecter]]'' by [[Peter Webber]] ** [[The Last Legion|The last legion]] by [[Doug Lefler]] ** ''[[Virgin Territory|Medieval Pie : Virgin Territory]]'' by [[David Leland]] * [[2009 in film|2009]]: ''[[Baarìa (film)|Baarìa]]'' by [[Giuseppe Tornatore]] * [[2011 in film|2011]]: [[Black Gold (2011 Qatari film)|Black gold]] by [[Jean-Jacques Annaud]] * [[2014 in film|2014]]: ''[[Autómata]]'' by [https://www.imdb.com/fr/name/nm2688320/ Gabe Ibáñez] === Executive Producer === * [[1979 in film|1979]]: ''[[Monty Python's Life of Brian]]'' by [[Terry Jones]] * [[1980 in film|1980]]: ''[[:fr:Rodriguez_au_pays_des_merguez|Rodriguez au pays des merguez]]'' by [[Philippe Clair]] * [[1983 in film|1983]]: ''[[:fr:Le_Grand_Carnaval|Le Grand Carnaval]]'' by [[Alexandre Arcady]] * [[1984 in film|1984]]: ''[[Les Morfalous]]'' by [[Henri Verneuil]] * [[2022 in film|2022]]: [[Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (film)|''Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile'']] by [[Will Speck and Josh Gordon|Josh Gordon]] and [[Will Speck]] === Distributor === * [[2002 in film|2002]]: ''[[City by the Sea]]'' by [[Michael Caton-Jones]] * [[2005 in film|2005]]: ''[[Quartier V.I.P.|Quartier VIP]]'' by [[Laurent Firode]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.tarakbenammar.com/ Official website] *{{IMDb name|id=0069893|name=Tarak Ben Ammar}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ammar, Tarak Ben}} [[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Tunis]] [[Category:Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni]] [[Category:Tunisian film producers]] [[Category:French people of Tunisian descent]] [[Category:French people of Corsican descent]] [[Category:Tunisian people of French descent]] [[Category:French Muslims]] [[Category:Tunisian Muslims]] {{film-producer-stub}}'