For more than 40 years my mother, Kitty Cooper, who has died aged 90, was a leading figure at Contemporary Films, a London-based distribution company established by her husband, Charles, in 1951. Kitty worked there from 1964 until her retirement in 2008, purchasing films and organising their release, dealing with international sales and covering the festival circuit.
The company, of which she was a director, became known for releasing international arthouse works and political documentaries, as well as for supporting the efforts of promising young film-makers.
