Biography
Jake Seal is a British film producer, entrepreneur, and studio executive known for his wide-ranging contributions to independent cinema, studio production, and the revival of analogue filmmaking. As founder of what is now known as ORWO Studios (noted for The Maze Runner, Twilight, The Magnificent Seven, Free State of Jones) and also the UK's Black Hangar Studios (with credits including Dumbo, Mission: Impossible, Doctor Who, Kraven the Hunter, and Ra.One - the biggest Bollywood film of all time), Seal has supported dozens of international features across genres.
Raised between Germany, Hong Kong, and the UK, Seal launched his producing career with Last Hour, a Hong Kong-set action thriller starring DMX, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Paul Sorvino, and Monica Cruz. He followed with First Blood, a mafia film starring Franco Nero, and went on to produce acclaimed titles such as Born to Be Blue (Ethan Hawke), Blaze (Ethan Hawke), Grand Isle (Nicolas Cage), Willy's Wonderland (Nicolas Cage), Breaking the Bank (Kelsey Grammer), Back Roads (Alex Pettyfer), and The Moo Man, a documentary that premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim. His work has been featured at major international festivals including TIFF, Locarno, Cannes, and Sundance, winning numerous awards.
Seal is also known for championing first-time and emerging directors, having worked closely with talents such as Alex Pettyfer, Ethan Hawke, Julie Pacino, Maguy Cohen, Josh R. Rappaport, and many others. A strong advocate for analogue film and photography in the digital age, he has led efforts to reintroduce celluloid filmmaking at scale and modernize film production through ORWO's global infrastructure. His philanthropic work spans environmental and educational outreach, with active initiatives in West Africa (notably Benin) and India. Across both creative and charitable ventures, Jake Seal brings a global vision grounded in innovation, sustainability, and long-term cultural impact.
