Arianne Fraser

CEO

Arianne Fraser is a founding partner of Highland Film Group (HFG), an award-winning global studio with end-to-end capabilities, driving films from development to release. HFG operates as a producer, financier, distributor and sales agent, with an in-house team that oversees global productions and acquisitions. Launched in 2010 alongside Delphine Perrier, HFG delivers standout films across a wide range of genres and platforms, building a reputation for producing high-octane films in the action, thriller and horror space.

HFG’s diversified production and sales slate includes William Eubank’s action thriller Land of Bad starring Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth released on 1,300 screens in February 2024 and surged to the #1 spot on Netflix in the US; Benjamin Brewer’s survival action-thriller Arcadian starring Nicolas Cage, official selection at SXSW; Adam Cooper’s crime thriller Sleeping Dogs starring Russell Crowe and Karen Gillan; and Adrian Grünberg’s shark actioner The Black Demon starring Josh Lucas which claimed the #1 spot on Amazon’s streaming rankings for seven consecutive days following its theatrical release in 2023. Upcoming releases include Joe Carnahan’s survival thriller Not Without Hope starring Zachary Levi and Josh Duhamel; the sci-fi thriller The Astronaut produced by Brad Fuller and starring Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne, world premiere at SXSW; Chuck Russell’s horror thriller Witchboard starring Jamie Campbell Bower; and Allan Ungar’s action comedy London Calling starring Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor.

New projects include Justin Chadwick’s action spy-thriller The Mark starring Jessica Alba; the espionage action thriller Stratagem starring Noomi Rapace and Teo Yoo; the thriller Just Play Dead starring Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Green; the action crime thriller Wardriver starring Dane DeHaan and Sasha Calle; Adrian Grunberg’s action-thriller Protector starring Milla Jovovich; John Stalberg, Jr.’s Muzzle: City of Wolves starring Aaron Eckhart; and the action crime thriller The Deputy starring Duke Nicholson, William H. Macy, Tiffany Haddish and Stephen Dorff.

Over the course of her career, Arianne has successfully financed multiple films using a combination of pre-sales to cover senior and subordinated debt, gap, tax credit, and facilitated capital for mezz and equity.

Delphine Perrier

COO

Delphine Perrier is the COO of Highland Film Group (HFG), an award-winning global studio with end-to-end capabilities, driving films from development to release. HFG operates as a producer, financier, distributor and sales agent, with an in-house team that oversees global productions and acquisitions. Launched in 2010 alongside Arianne Fraser, HFG delivers standout films across a wide range of genres and platforms, building a reputation for producing high-octane films in the action, thriller and horror space.

Perrier brings with her a significant amount of legal and international sales experience within the entertainment industry. Graduating with a law degree from the Sorbonne University Law School in Paris, she began her career in the entertainment industry as a contract administrator at Kushner & Locke where she managed an extensive library of over 200 films. Perrier was also one of the key players in the debut of Mandate Pictures, where she led the International Legal Affairs department and was responsible for collecting outstanding receivables for box office hits including The Grudge 1 and 2, Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, Juno, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, Stranger Than Fiction, The Messengers, Boogeyman 1 & 2, and 30 Days of Night. Ambitious to complement her legal expertise in the industry, Perrier joined Odd Lot International as the Vice President of International Sales where she developed her relationships with Hollywood producers and promoted Odd Lot International’s Sales Agent Service. Her next move was to one of Hollywood’s major studios, Paramount, where she became the second in command of International Sales for the Studio’s specialty branch, Paramount Vantage. Her slate included films such as The Crazies, Shutter Island, Capitalism: A Love Story, Traitor, Last Chance Harvey, and Ondine.

In early 2010, Perrier partnered with Arianne Fraser to form Highland Film Group – their diversified production and sales slate includes William Eubank’s action thriller Land of Bad starring Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth released on 1,300 screens in February 2024 and surged to the #1 spot on Netflix in the US; Benjamin Brewer’s survival action-thriller Arcadian starring Nicolas Cage, official selection at SXSW; Adam Cooper’s crime thriller Sleeping Dogs starring Russell Crowe and Karen Gillan; and Adrian Grünberg’s shark actioner The Black Demon starring Josh Lucas which claimed the #1 spot on Amazon’s streaming rankings for seven consecutive days following its theatrical release in 2023. Upcoming releases include Joe Carnahan’s survival thriller Not Without Hope starring Zachary Levi and Josh Duhamel; the sci-fi thriller The Astronaut produced by Brad Fuller and starring Kate Mara and Laurence Fishburne, world premiere at SXSW; Chuck Russell’s horror thriller Witchboard starring Jamie Campbell Bower; and Allan Ungar’s action comedy London Calling starring Josh Duhamel and Jeremy Ray Taylor.

Delphine has a law degree from the Sorbonne University Law School in Paris.

Monique Green

CFO

Anita Levian

Head of Business and Legal Affairs

Caleb Ward

VP of Acquisitions and Development

With several years of distribution and acquisitions experience in the entertainment industry, Caleb Ward joins Highland Film Group in 2021 as Vice President of Acquisitions. Caleb oversees feature acquisitions and production development for Highland’s global sales slate as well as its domestic releasing arm, The Avenue.

Caleb has also served as Director of Acquisitions for Byron Allen’s Entertainment Studios/Freestyle. He is the Director of the Late-Night program for the Colorado-based festival SeriesFest and also served as a programmer for North Carolina’s Cucalorus Film Festival. Prior to Freestyle, Caleb served as film acquisitions coordinator for The Orchard/1091 and before that as the marketing, theatrical and digital sales coordinator for Gravitas Ventures.

Caleb graduated from University of Carolina Wilmington with a B.A. in Film and Cinema Studies as well as another B.A. in Creative Writing. At his time at University of Carolina Wilmington Ward Directed the film Children of Salt and participated in the Atlantis Creative Magazine, Treehouse Magazine, and co-founded the Treehouse Magazine.

Paul Hazen

VP of Operations

Alyson Newman

VP of Business and Legal Affairs

JJ Caruth

President of Domestic Marketing and Distribution

Having worked at four major studios, JJ Caruth has over 15 years marketing and distribution experience in the entertainment industry. She has extensive knowledge of the independent film market, the global theatrical and home entertainment markets, consumer trends and emerging distribution platforms.

Currently, she is the President of Domestic Marketing and Distribution at The Avenue, a subsidiary of Highland Film Group Inc, responsible for the marketing and distribution strategy for acquisitions in North America. This role links content from filmmakers to distribution platforms throughout the product lifecycle and is key to the commercial success of the brand.

Most recently, she was the Vice President of Content Strategy and Marketing at Universal Content Group, responsible for the marketing and distribution of a diverse slate of independent films including Loving Pablo, The Public, An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn and Piercing (winner of seven Clios and one Golden Trailer award.). Prior to that, JJ was the Head of Marketing and Distribution at Focus World, a division of Focus Features and NBC Universal. Working with a small but nimble team, she developed integrated marketing plans and innovative distribution tactics. The Focus World release slate set new milestones for the company such as #1 non-traditional release (5 Flights Up) and #1 distributor of non-traditional releases in 2015, 2nd largest foreign film debut of 2016 in the US (A Tale of Love and Darkness) and winner of Golden Trailer award (Raw) in 2017.

Prior to UPHE, JJ worked in various marketing roles in theatrical and home entertainment at the Walt Disney Studios, Twentieth Century Fox and MGM. Originally from London, England, JJ studied at UCLA and began her entertainment career in international television sales at MGM.

Erik Gonzalez

Director of Marketing and Distribution

With nearly two decades in the entertainment industry, Erik Gonzalez joined Highland Film Group in 2020, starting as a Marketing Manager and rising to Director of Domestic Marketing and Distribution. In his current role, Erik oversees all marketing efforts and shapes comprehensive theatrical and home entertainment distribution plans, aligning them with The Avenue's strategic vision.

Erik is a recognized Marketing Executive known for his dedication to 360-degree marketing strategies. He excels at translating complex subjects into tangible design concepts, driving impactful branding and marketing initiatives. Erik's enthusiasm for marketing parallels his passion for crafting bespoke distribution strategies, spanning day-and-date models to traditional theatrical releases.

As Head of Digital Marketing at Universal Content Group, Erik executed digital campaigns for films like "Driven," with Jason Sudeikis and Lee Pace, "The Public" by Emilio Estevez, and "JT LeRoy" starring Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern. Previously, he led content production at Neoganda Creative Agency working with STX Films, Sony Pictures, and others. Erik also consulted for Focus World, contributing to award-winning digital campaigns for "Raw" which rewarded him a Silver Honor, Best Multi-Platform Campaign.

Earlier, Erik held marketing roles at Universal Pictures and Walt Disney Studios, contributing to campaigns for various films, including "Children Of Men," "Smokin’ Aces," "Knocked Up," "The Bourne Franchise," "The Fast & Furious Franchise," "Charlie Wilson’s War," "Leatherheads," "The Incredible Hulk," "Wanted," "The Mummy Franchise," "Public Enemies," "Greenzone," "Kick-Ass," "Despicable Me," "Scott Pilgrim vs The World," "Lilo & Stitch," "The Santa Clause Franchise," "The Pirates of the Caribbean Franchise," "Brother Bear," "National Treasure," "The Pacifier," and "The Chronicles of Narnia Franchise."

Erik holds a B.A. in Communications and Theatrical Arts from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Computer Science and Animation from the Art Institute. Beyond his career, he's an avid 2D and 3D artist and animator, passionate about storytelling.

Nick Dardes

Manager of Acquisitions and Development

Nick Dardes joined Highland Film Group in 2021. With a BFA in Producing from University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Nick utilized his intense passion for the medium and was more than open to finding out more about every avenue in film. Starting out in the Delivery Department, Nick learned the technical side of filmmaking which pushed him further into the world of post-production. Now, having shifted into Development and Acquisitions in 2025, Nick is tapping into the more creative side of the industry.

Growing up in a tiny southern town which has a total of zero movie theaters can be difficult for somebody with a passion for Cinema. Nick was lucky enough to be surrounded by storytellers which led him to chase the dream of working in entertainment. His goal from here on out is to amplify the unique voices he’s drawn to, while using his skillset to bring high concept stories to as big of an audience as humanly possible.