GARY GILBERT is founder and President of Gilbert Films, a Los Angeles-based production company dedicated to producing and financing both independent and studio films. Mr. Gilbert’s first feature, writer/director Zach Braff’s GARDEN STATE, world-premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and opened the following summer to critical acclaim and box office success. The film starred Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Ian Holm, and Peter Sarsgaard. Mr. Gilbert, along with Mr. Braff and the film’s other producers, was honored with the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.
Mr. Gilbert also produced THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT, the third feature from Lisa Cholodenko (HIGH ART, LAUREL CANYON), starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. The film premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was purchased by Focus Features, a division of Universal. The film, released in July 2010 by Focus Features, received four Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and won the Golden Globe for Best Picture, Comedy or Musical.
Most recently, Gilbert produced Matthew Weiner’s (MAD MEN) directorial debut, YOU ARE HERE, starring Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler and Zach Galifianakis.
Gary's most recent and well-known credit is for his work as Producer on LA LA LAND, which won 6 Academy Awards.
Other credits include MEET MONICA VELOUR, the feature directorial debut from award-winning commercials director Keith Bearden, starring Kim Cattrall, Brian Dennehy, and Keith David. The movie was produced and fully financed by Gilbert Films, and was released theatrically by Anchor Bay in 2011. Along with Lakeshore Entertainment, Mr. Gilbert financed and produced Mark Pellington’s HENRY POOLE IS HERE, starring Luke Wilson and Radha Mitchell, which was released by Overture in 2008. And with Fox Searchlight, he financed and produced MARGARET, written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, starring Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Matthew Broderick, and Mark Ruffalo.
Gilbert comes to filmmaking from the world of mortgage banking. In 1985, he and his brother, Dan, founded Rock Financial, a residential mortgage banking company. In May of 1998 Rock became a publicly traded company (NASDQ:RCCK) which was purchased by Intuit (Quicken) in December of 1999. While his brother remained with the company, the sale enabled Gilbert to strike out on his own and explore filmmaking. Additionally, Gilbert and his brother are co-owners of the NBA franchise the Cleveland Cavaliers.