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BEAUTYISTANBUL Exhibition 2026

FOCUS 2026 Monday 7 Dec Tuesday 8 December

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Business Design Center, 52 Upper Street, London, UK

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  5. Michael Leahy

Michael Leahy

Producer

Strike Accord

About the Speaker

Mike Leahy is an accomplished film producer whose career spans more than three decades across studio and independent production. Beginning in the heyday of MTV and music videos, he served as Head of Production at FYI before moving into features with Lower Level for Overseas Film Group. 
 
As co-founder of Neo Art & Logic, Leahy produced over 25 feature films in partnership with Paramount, Disney, Miramax, and Dimension Films — developing franchises such as The Prophecy, American Yakuza, Pulse, and Feast (from Bravo’s Project Greenlight with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck). His experience bridges creative and physical production — from financing and rebate negotiations to talent and rights deals — across shoots in the U.S., Europe, and North Africa. Leahy brings a grounded perspective on how cash-rebate systems, co-production diplomacy, and multicultural crews create real production value. 
 
Today, through his company Strike Accord, he continues to develop projects for both traditional and emerging platforms, combining storytelling with pragmatic insight into the global production economy. 

Attending

The Runaway Debate: How a Cash Rebate, Production Value, and Cross-Country Diplomacy Drive the Shift South to Morocco
Exhibitor Presentation

The Runaway Debate: How a Cash Rebate, Production Value, and Cross-Country Diplomacy Drive the Shift South to Morocco

Monday, Dec 8, 2025
5:10 PM - 5:50 PM | Europe/Istanbul
Presentation Theatre 2
Sponsor (1)
Ozz Films

Speaker's Sessions (1)

Date

​
Session
Exhibitor Presentation
The Runaway Debate: How a Cash Rebate, Production Value, and Cross-Country Diplomacy Drive the Shift South to Morocco
Monday, Dec 8, 2025
5:10 PM - 5:50 PM | Europe/Istanbul
FOCUS 2025 Exhibitor
Presentation Theatre 2
English

The Runaway Debate: How a Cash Rebate, Production Value, and Cross-Country Diplomacy Drive the Shift South to Morocco

The session opens with an introduction by Imane Dryef, Minister Plenipotentiary (Moroccan Embassy), offering a concise perspective on Morocco’s support for international filmmaking and its growing role as a strategic production partner.

With that context set, location manager Christian McWilliams (UK), producer Michael Leahy (USA), and producer Said Andam (Morocco) delve into an honest debate and productional analysis of the ongoing “runaway to Morocco” shift. Together, they explore finance, production value, and the practical realities of making international productions work in today’s climate. The discussion dives into how a mixed, multicultural workforce operates on set — where creative diplomacy, shared expertise, and economic pragmatism meet. From rebate mechanics to on-the-ground collaboration, the panel examines why “runaway” doesn’t mean outsourcing, but rather expanding possibility — making ambitious productions achievable while creating real benefits for both visiting and local crews.

Speakers (4)
Said Andam
Executive Producer, Ozz Films
Imane Dryef
Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in London
Sponsors (1)
Ozz Films