Polyphony Entertainment

Polyphony Entertainment is an Australian-owned multi-faceted entertainment company based in Sydney. Encompassing all areas of film distribution and production, along with specialised talent management expertise, Polyphony Entertainment is a unique independent force in the entertainment industry.  

Richard Sheffield - Company Director

Richard has spent all but four years of his working life in the motion picture industry. While he has spent a large part of this time in film distribution, he has also been involved extensively in buying rights to films, feature film production, home entertainment distribution and television sales. 

He has worked for 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Greater Union Organisation and for eight years in the 1970s was United Artists General Manager for New Zealand and the South Pacific. 

In 1987, he was instrumental in setting up a Film Distribution division within the Becker Organisation, a company who up until that time was involved solely in television production and sales. Highlights of his years with Becker’s include the successful launch of REP film distribution label, securing the rights to FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL (grossing over A$23,000,000 at the Australian and New Zealand box office) and developing and producing GROSS MISCONDUCT starring Naomi Watts and Jimmy Smits. While at Becker’s, Richard was also involved in the development of several other productions from script stage. These included, HAWKS (England), BAD INFLUENCE (USA), APARTMENT ZERO (Argentina), SCORCHERS (USA) and REAL MACAW (Australia). 

In 1995, Polygram offered Richard the position of Managing Director of Polygram Filmed Entertainment, drawing upon his experience to again set up a film distribution operation in Australia and New Zealand.   

The operation was very successful, resulting in double-digit annual percentage increases to bottom-line profits in each of the four years he headed the company.  Highlights of this period include;  the World Premiere and very successful release of MR BEAN (A$19,800,000 box office) the release of NOTTING HILL (A$25,000,000 box office) and the development and executive-production of WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED, the successful sequel to ONCE WERE WARRIORS. 

Richard was also involved in setting up several Australian films for Polygram, including; BLACK ROCK, DEAD LETTER OFFICE, PAPERBACK HERO and IN A SAVAGE LAND. In 1999, the Seagram Company (who at that time owned Universal Pictures) purchased the Polygram Group and folded it into their existing operation, bringing about the closure of the Polygram Film operation. 

Since the beginning of 2000, Richard has stayed involved with film through his own Entertainment Company, Polyphony Entertainment, a film and music company. 

For the past 20 years Richard has attended the major film markets in the United States and Europe and has developed a strong relationship with the majority of the world’s leading film sellers.