“Mother,” “Elly,” “Flute” Land with Rebranded Here Films

http://i.indiewire.com/images/uploads/i/090629_hereTHUMB.jpg

Xavier Dolan’s “I Killed My Mother” (J’ai tue ma mere), which swept three of the four prizes in the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight this year, is coming to the United States. The film is among the newly announed titles that have been acquired by the re-branded Here Films (formerly known as Regent Releasing). Here has also acquired U.S. rights to Kenneth Branagh’s “The Magic Flute” and North American rights to Asghar Farhadi’s Berlin Silver Bear winner “About Elly” (Darbareye Elly).

All three films will be released in select U.S. theaters, on DVD and via here! Networks next year, the company said this morning in an announcement.

The move is aimed at underscoring an expansion of the scope of the company, key staffers recently told indieWIRE. While Regent Releasing had a core focus on films for gay and lesbian audiences, they had begun to broaden their focus with an increase in foreign language films, including the recent release of foreign language Oscar winner, “Departures.” Today’s announcement continues that shift.

Here is planning to release 8-12 films per year and will pursue multi-platforms, as is being done by companies such as IFC Films and Magnolia Pictures.

“This launch marks an important evolution for us as a company and a distributor by allowing us to effectively utilize all our brands and maximize our cross-platform distribution capabilities to bring award-winning world cinema with universal appeal to U.S. audiences across multiple platforms,” said Paul Colichman and Stephen P. Jarchow, CEO and Chairman of parent company Here Media, in a statement.

The leadership team of Here includes top executives from Regent: Mark Reinhart, EVP of Distribution and Acquisitions, John Lambert, SVP of Theatrical Distribution, Liz Mackiewicz, SVP of Sales and Distribution and Jonathon Aubry, VP of Marketing and Distribution. 

Xavier Dolan’s French Canadian film “I Killed My Mother” is the semi-autobiographical story from the twenty-year old director’s feature directing debut. It stars Dolan, Anne Dorval, Suzanne Cle’mont, Francois Arnaud and Monique Spaziani. The film is described by the company as focusing on, “a sixteen-year old boy from Montreal who has a complicated love/hate relationship with his mother.  He drifts through the mysteries of an adolescence of artistic discoveries, illicit experiences, friendship, sex and ostracism.” The deal was brokered by international sales agent REZO in the wake of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

News » Oscar Noms News » Sundance Winners Features » Critics Speak

Kenneth Branagh’s “The Magic Flute,” an adaptation of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” was co-written by Branagh and Stephen Fry. Fry did the English libretto translation for the movie. The film feature’s musical director James Conlon conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe for the film, and stars Joseph Kaiser, Amy Carson, Benjamin Jay Davis, Silvia Moi, Rene Pape and Lyubov Petrova. The movie takes place, in the words of an announcement, “on the eve of World War I and unfolds as a young soldier waiting for the command to go to battle is transported into a twilight world between a dream and nightmare. He is sent on a deadly mission to rescue the daughter of the Queen of the Night from the dark lord Sarastro.” The company made the deal with Celluloid Dreams. Asghar Farhadi’s “About Elly,” from Iran, is described as the story of, “a group of middle-class Iranians who drive to the shores of the Caspian Sea for a short break from Tehran.” It stars Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani and the deal was brokered with Dreamlab. The rebranding of Here Films comes amidst a brand consolidation at the company, which recently completed the business combination of Here Networks LLC and its publishing affiliate, which includes leading LGBT publications. The divisions at the company include film studio Here Studios, distribution company Here Films, TV network here! Networks, publishing oulets Out, Advocate, HIV Plus, and Alyson Books, as well as online properties Gay.com, Planetout.com, Advocate.com, Out.com and SheWired.com. —the complete press release is posted on page two— Loading ... Can distributors thrive without offering multiple platforms for their slate today? Yes, the established ones will and do today. No, the world has changed and inevitably everyone will have to come up with unique ideas for distribution. As has happened for a long time, there will be a mix. Online is truly the future... Read & React: “Mother,” “Elly,” “Flute” Land with Rebranded Here Films Page 1 of 2 Next Login to recommend this article » posted on June 29, 2009 |Share Login to Leave a Comment »