Who We Are

Film One: Over 30 Years of Expertise in Global Production & Distribution
With over three decades of experience, Film One is a seasoned production and distribution company backed by a youthful, media-savvy team. We have an impressive portfolio of over 200 hours of television, feature films and documentaries, and numerous industrial and commercial projects produced in multiple languages, including English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic, ensuring top-tier visual quality that meets the demands of today’s audiences.
​Our commitment to delivering high-quality content, always on time and on budget, sets us apart in the industry.

Our History

Film One – Our Beginnings
Film One was founded in 1988 by Jalal Merhi with a vision to produce high-quality feature films for both domestic and international audiences.
Our first feature film, Black Pearls, marked the beginning of our journey. The film’s first deal was secured with Cineplex Canada, through Jeff Sackman, then Vice President of Acquisitions, while Cyril Drabinsky served as President.
In 1990, we attended our very first international film market — the American Film Market (AFM) in Los Angeles — which happened to be the last year before AFM relocated to Santa Monica. That same year, Jeff Sackman and Cineplex graciously invited us to share their sales office at the Cannes Film Festival.
It was at Cannes in 1990 where Jeff introduced us to SGE Entertainment executives Leonard “Lenny” Shapiro, Jim Glickenhaus, and Alan Solomon. During this meeting, we pitched the concept for Tiger Claws to both SGE and Universal Pictures. By October 1990, we filmed the first promotional teaser for Tiger Claws and officially launched our pre-sales campaign, setting the stage for one of our most successful franchises.