Bill Block

Biography

William "Bill" Hunt Block (born April 2, 1954, in New York City, U.S.) is a prominent American film producer and executive, known for his significant contributions to the independent film landscape and his leadership roles in major production companies. His career spans talent representation, independent film financing, and heading a storied Hollywood studio.

Early Life and Career Beginnings:

Block attended Columbia University, where he became a supporter of the school's film program. He began his career in the entertainment industry as a literary agent. In 1988, he founded the Intertalent Agency, representing notable artists such as Kim Basinger, Samuel L. Jackson, Steven Seagal, John Travolta, and directors like Sam Raimi and Roland Emmerich. He later served as head of West Coast Operations for International Creative Management (ICM) from 1992 to 1997.

Independent Film Production and Financing:

In 1997, Block transitioned to the executive side, becoming President of Artisan Entertainment, an independent film studio. During his tenure, Artisan produced or acquired a diverse range of successful and critically acclaimed films, including The Blair Witch Project, The Buena Vista Social Club, Darren Aronofsky's Pi and Requiem for a Dream, Steven Soderbergh's The Limey, and Roman Polanski's The Ninth Gate.

Following his time at Artisan, Block founded QED International in 2002, a film finance, production, and sales company. As CEO of QED for 12 years, he produced several significant films, including Neill Blomkamp's District 9 (2009) and Elysium (2013), Oliver Stone's W. (2008), and David Ayer's World War II thriller Fury (2014) starring Brad Pitt.

In 2014, after Media Content Capital took a controlling interest in QED, Block left to co-launch Merced Media with producer Kevin Frakes. From 2015 to 2017, he also managed Bill Block Media, producing commercially successful comedies like Bad Moms (2016) and Dirty Grandpa (2016).

Leadership at Miramax and Beyond:

In April 2017, Bill Block was appointed CEO of Miramax, the iconic film studio. During his six-year tenure, which lasted until October 2023, he oversaw a "strategic shift" for the company. Under his leadership, Miramax relaunched successful franchises like the Halloween trilogy and co-produced hits such as Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Reports indicate that Miramax saw a significant increase in revenue and profits during his time as CEO.

After he departed from Miramax, Block continued his prolific career by forming a new production company, BlockFilm, in October 2023.

Selected Filmography (Producer/Executive Producer):

• Vanilla Sky (2001) (Executive Producer)
• W. (2008)
• District 9 (2009) (Executive Producer)
• Elysium (2013)
• Fury (2014)
• Bad Moms (2016)
• Dirty Grandpa (2016)
• Halloween (2018)
• The Gentlemen (2020)
• Wrath of Man (2021)
• Halloween Kills (2021)
• Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
• The Holdovers (2023) (Executive Producer)
• The Beekeeper (2024)

Bill Block lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife, Eugenia Kuzmina, and his two sons and a daughter. His career reflects a deep understanding of film production, financing, and distribution, making him a significant figure in the entertainment industry.