Elixir Films distinguishes itself as an innovative producer and financier of independent feature films and television. The company is committed to help meet the growing demand for smart, authentic, character-driven projects by forging and supporting lasting relationships with individuals of profound vision. As a self-funded and truly independent company, Elixir is able to advance the filmmaking process by avoiding the logjam often associated with traditional financing. Although Elixir is passionate about filmed entertainment and its endless potential to communicate, the company relentlessly navigates the industry's ever changing economic landscape without sacrificing a project's original creative intention.
David Alexanian
In 2000, David founded Elixir Films, purchased the rights to one of his favorite childhood books, ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’, and made the book into a feature film starring Kris Kristofferson, Ned Beatty, Dabney Coleman, Mac Davis and Dave Matthews for Disney.
David then went on to bring a live theatre version of Connor McPherson’s gut-wrenching play ‘The Good Thief’ starring his dear friend Broadway superstar Brian D’arcy James to the Court Theater in Los Angeles.
In ‘Long Way Round’, David chronicled the odyssey of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman as they biked more than 20,000 miles from London to New York - through Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Far Eastern Russia and North America. Two years later the team reunited for ‘Long Way Down’, this time highlighting a ride from the northern most tip of Scotland, through Europe, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa.
David next teamed up with Emilio Estevez in 2008 to produce ‘The Way’, a scripted feature film set in the north of Spain on the 800-kilometer trek called the Camino de Santiago. Emilio and David agreed to bring the best of their scripted and unscripted styles together and make a film that would have the authenticity and intimacy of a documentary and the refinement and scope of a major motion picture. They flew to Spain and after several months of walking the Camino, developing the story, casting locals as well as film stars Martin Sheen, Deborah Unger, and Jimmy Nesbitt, The Way came to life.
Upon wrapping the movie, travelled to South Africa to direct and produce ‘Marley Africa Road Trip’, a documentary with Ziggy Marley and his brothers Rohan and Robbie. On a short deadline, David filmed the Marleys as they travelled across the country, jamming with local musicians and organizing a charity concert in Soweto to promote African Unity.
Most recently David directed and produced ‘Long Way Up’, for Apple TV Plus; the third travel adventure series starring Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman. Covering 13,000 miles over 100 days through 16 border crossings and 13 countries and starting from the city of Ushuaia at the Southern tip of South America, ‘Long Way Up’ journeyed through South and Central America and ended in Los Angeles. The series was nominated for three Emmy awards in 2021.
​
Philanthropy has always been a big part of David’s work from the ArtHeals event he organized with friends Tracey Effinger and Greg Lauren in the weeks following the tragedy of September 11th. The three reached out to nearly 200 artists to donate works and held a live auction emceed by Viveca Paulina and her husband Will Ferrell. Together, in one evening, all the works were sold, and the proceeds donated to the Twin Towers Orphan Fund. When filming all three installments of the Long Way series, David and his partners have sought to highlight the wonderful work that UNICEF does whether it be for the children in the city of Chernobyl, on the streets of Ulaanbaatar or in Choloma, Honduras. Since the start there has always been a deep desire and commitment to help support the numerous non-profit organizations, he and Elixir Films have come across over the years including McMillan Cancer Support, Riders for Health, Walkabout Foundation, Jo’burg Child Welfare, Cool Earth and Third Millennium Alliance.