Curious Film Splashes into the U.S. with Chris Breneman

Photo: Chris Breneman with a newborn Curious EP Pete Grasse

Curious Film is diving into the North American market with the appointment of the gumptious Chris Breneman as Head of Sales USA, based in Chicago.

Breneman is now the local US link to all things Curious including its stable of award-winning directors and a team of Australasian producers with experience spanning 12 years in Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

In a less Curious life, Breneman worked at several major US production companies across all three markets – West Coast, Midwest, and the East Coast. He first encountered the founders of Curious Film, director Darryl Ward and EP Matt Noonan, alongside Curious Australia EP Peter Grasse back in 2005.

“I first met Darryl, Matt and Peter in Cannes when we shared a villa and threw some unforgettable parties for friends and advertising agency clients worldwide. I immediately clicked with them – they’re great guys, talented too – and felt they should be working in the US market. The fact that we’re working together now ... well, it’s fate,” says Breneman.

Curious launched in New Zealand more than a decade ago, opening its Sydney office in 2007 with Pennsylvanian Peter Grasse at its helm as General Manager/EP, who also oversees Curious footprints across Asia.

“I'm an American who wanted to make it abroad. After winning with Curious worldwide, it's time to come home,” says Grasse.

Curious directors – Darryl Ward, Miki Magasiva. Regan Hall, Robin Walters, Sally Shapcott, Sam Kristofski, Stephen Kang, Summer Agnew, Tammy Davis and Zia Mandviwalla – are already well known in the US for campaigns like OLD NAVY and AIR NZ.

Recent wins at the Andy Awards (3 Golds), New York Festivals (4 First Prizes), Cannes, D&AD, the A-List Hollywood Awards, Ciclope, Axis Awards (New Zealand) and AWARD Awards (Australia) set Curious apart as one of the top production shops globally.