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D.I.Y. Distribution Dealmaking Today, An Emerging Case Study: "Four Eyed Monsters"
Frustrated by a lack of distribution prospects following successful festival screenings of their first feature at Slamdance, SXSW, and then Gen Art -- and facing mounting credit card debts this spring -- "Four Eyed Monsters" directors Susan Buice & Arin Crumley questioned whether they should have ever made their personal, low-budget movie. The path that Buice & Crumley have taken since that exasperated email nearly four months ago is evidence of the sort of clever strategizing sometimes seen among indie filmmakers who are unwilling to simply ride out the fest circuit wave and move on to a new project, or even pursue a different career altogether. As summer began, Buice & Crumley began implementing a pro-active approach to securing distribution for "Four Eyed Monsters," a narrative feature starring the filmmakers and set in New York City. Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 22, 2005)
IFC Films Joins Weinsteins "Transamerica" Release
IFC Films has announced plans to partner on the release of Duncan Tucker's "Transamerica" with The Weinstein Company (TWC). IFC will jointly release the film, starring Felicity Huffman as a pre-op transsexual, debuting it at the new IFC Center in downtown Manhattan. In the film, Huffman's character discovers that she has a son and pretends to be a Christian missionary, driving across the country to deliver him to his father. Alongside Huffman, the cast includes Kevin Zegers, Fionnula Flanagan, Elizabeth Pena and Graham Green. Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 19, 2005)
Asian Films Caught Between U.S. Distribs and DVD-Seeking Fans
As Asian film fans know, Wong Kar-wai's sexy, sci-fi remembrance "2046" opened a couple of weeks ago in U.S. theaters, Park Chan-wook's "Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance," the first in his sick and twisted revenge trilogy, debuts in Los Angeles and New York theaters this Friday, and coming out in October, Lions Gate Films will distribute "Three . . . Extremes," an omnibus horror trilogy from Asian auteurs Park Chan-Wook, Fruit Chan, and Takashi Miike. But as most Asian film fans also know, all three of these movies have been widely available on DVD well before their U.S. theatrical releases. Anthony Kaufman reports in this month's World Cinema Column. (August 17, 2005)
"Broken Flowers" Fertilizes the Specialty Box office Again; "Grizzly Man" Biggest Debut
Focus Features' box office bouquet continued to blossom last weekend as "Broken Flowers" expanded considerably, capturing the iW BOT's premiere position as ranked on a per screen basis. Last week's number two, "2046" from Sony Pictures Classics held firm again this week following a further roll out, while THINKFilm's "The Aristocrats" maintained its seat at third after adding a large number of screens. Lions Gate Films' "Grizzly Man" topped the week's newcomers, while the weekend's other seven openers ran the gambit on the iW BOT' chart. Miramax's "The Great Raid" opened on over 800 screens with a low to moderate screen average, but instantly became the chart's second highest grossing film after Warner Independent Pictures' "March of the Penguins," which again added screens after two months since its release. Brian Brooks reports. (August 17, 2005)
De La Iglesia's "El Crimen Perfecto" Set for U.S. Release
Alex de la Iglesia's "El Crimen Perfecto" (Perfect Crime), formerly known as "El Crimen Ferpecto" (Ferpect Crime), will kick-off its U.S. theatrical release later this week from Vitagraph Films. The film, from the director of "The Day of the Beast" and "Perdito Durango," is a black comedy that stars Guillermo Toledo as a Madrid department store clerk competing for a floor manager job while he has his way with any number of sexy store saleswomen. When the suave clerk gets involved with an inadvertent crime, he must plot to commit the "perfect crime." Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 16, 2005)
THINKFilm Takes Rights to "Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till"
North American rights to Keith Beauchamp's doc "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till" have been acquired by THINKFilm, U.S. theatrical head of the company Mark Urman announced Wednesday. Till's murder in Mississippi helped to usher in the American civil rights movement beginning in the 1950s. The film will begin an exclusive engagement at New York's Film Forum on August 17, followed by additional engagements around the country in the autumn to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Till's murder. Brian Brooks reports. (August 11, 2005)
TLA Releasing to Take "Beverly Kills" to Theaters in Mid '06
TLA Releasing has acquired rights to Damion Dietz's comedy, "Beverly Kills," the company announced Monday. The deal, brokered through New Media Entertainment, gives theatrical, home entertainment and broadcast rights for both North America and the United Kingdom to the company. The label plans to begin a limited theatrical release of the film in mid-2006. (August 11, 2005)
"Broken Flowers" Romances the Specialty Box office; "2046" Debuts Smashingly
Focus Features seems to have found a lasting relationship with Jim Jarmusch's latest effort "Broken Flowers." Sony Pictures Classics, meanwhile, scored well with its Wong Kar Wai feature "2046," debuting on several screens with a nearly equally impressive screen average while the distributor's other weekend release, "Junebug" performed more moderately. Warner Independent Pictures' "specialty blockbuster" "March of the Penguins" continued its reign as the iW BOT's biggest cash cow, with a huge expansion over the weekend fetching grosses in the high seven figures, padding a specialty box office that out-performed the industry-wide screen average for the second weekend in a row. Brian Brooks reports. (August 10, 2005)
Here! Plans Simultaneous Release of Margaret Cho's "Assassin" In Theaters and On TV
Comedienne Margaret Cho's new concert film "Assassin" will be simultaneously released in theaters and on television throughout the United States, according to an announcement from here! Tuesday. Filmed in May in Washington D.C., the performance film will debut in theaters on September 2nd through a theatrical release, as well as airing on television via satellite and through video-on-demand service. Proceeds from the theatrical run of the film will benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 10, 2005)
Sundance Winner "Down to the Bone" and San Sebastian Fav "Cautiva" Picked Up by Laemmle/Zeller Films
Sundance 2004 award-winner "Down to the Bone" by Debra Granik has been acquired by Laemmle/Zeller Films the group announced Wednesday. Additionally, the company has also picked up rights to Argentine thriller "Cautiva" by Gastón Biraben. Laemmle/Zeller Films will open "Down to the Bone" theatrically in early October, while "Cautiva" will roll out in the first quarter of 2006. Brian Brooks reports. (August 10, 2005)
"Future of Food" Doc Set for U.S. Release Via Cinema Libre
Deborah Koons Garcia's "The Future of Food," a documentary offering a look at changes taking place within the food system dominated by corporations, will get a U.S. theatrical release through Cinema Libre Studio. In the words of an announcement, the film explores "the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled grocery store shelves for the past decade." Cinema Libre will open the film next month in cooperation with grassroots outreach outfit Good Company Communications, kicking off the U.S. release at New York City's Film Forum on September 14th. A DVD release is also planned. Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 09, 2005)
"Aristocrats" Swallows the Specialty Box Office; "Penguins" Continues Strong
Foul-mouthed doc "The Aristocrats" attained an orgy of box office returns last weekend, becoming the second highest per screen winner this year, and one of the biggest since this column began in indieWIRE. The feature easily took the prime position on the chart, ranked on a per screen basis, after opening at several locations. The overall specialty box office winner, however, continued to be "March of the Penguins," which alone represented about two-thirds of last weekend's entire iW BOT total of just over $6 million. Other newcomers like "Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress," and "The Conformist," however, did perform solidly in limited runs, while other debuts fared less spectacularly. Brian Brooks reports. (August 03, 2005)
Despite Changes At Miramax, "Reel Paradise" Coming To Theaters Via Wellspring; Pierson Family Doc Also Expected On IFC
Steve James' latest documentary "Reel Paradise," featuring indie guru John Pierson, his wife Janet, and their two children, will debut theatrically in New York later this month before expanding to theaters in Los Angeles and then other markets. Wellspring is opening the movie at the new IFC Center in Manhattan on August 17th. IFC is close to a deal to handle the cable debut of the doc, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year before screening at SXSW and other festivals this spring and summer. Eugene Hernandez reports. (August 01, 2005)
Doros and Heller Set Release of "Winter Soldier" to Launch New Company, Milliarium Zero
Milestone Film co-founders Dennis Doros and Amy Heller have formed Milliarium Zero, a new film distribution company that will handle films with strong social and political content. First up for the new outfit is "Winter Soldier", a look at the 1971 Winter Solider Investigation conducted by Vietnam Veterans Against The War. The film was made by a collective of filmmakers who worked together to create the rarely seen documentary. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 28, 2005)
"9 Songs" and "Last Days" Debut Well; "Penguins" March to Heavy Seven-figures Again
Warner Independent Pictures' "March of the Penguins" spawned another impressive weekend in theaters, expanding into hundreds of additional venues throughout the country, although the film relinquished its perch at the head of the specialty pack of films, as ranked on a per screen average. Tartan Films' sexy "9 Songs" laid claim to the top spot, opening in one theater, while Picturehouse's "Last Days" placed second, opening at a dozen locations. IFC Films' "The Edukators" opened to moderate numbers, while THINKFilms' "Murderball" gained momentum in an expansion. "March of the Penguins," however, continued to take the lion's share of the overall box office, padding what would have otherwise been a ho-hum weekend. Brian Brooks reports. (July 27, 2005)
"Gay Sex" Hits San Francisco and NYC Theaters in November
Joseph Lovett's documentary "Gay Sex in the 70s" has secured distribution in theaters, on home video/DVD and cable television, Lovett announced yesterday. The film will be self-distributed by the director/producer's own Lovett Productions with support from Frameline, the film's educational partner, while Wolfe Video, has secured home video/DVD rights for the film. "Gay Sex in the 70s" will have its theatrical premiere in New York and San Francisco on November 4. Ellen Keohane reports. (July 27, 2005)
Battsek To Helm Miramax; Disney Exec Coming to America for Indiewood Post
Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook has named Daniel Battsek, an EVP and Managing Director of the company's Buena Vista International unit in the UK, to lead its Indiewood division, Miramax Films. The widely anticipated move will officially take effect on October 1, 2005 after the departure of Miramax founders Bob and Harvey Weinstein who previously announced they are leaving Disney to start a new company. Battsek, in a conversation with indieWIRE on Monday, confirmed that he would move to New York City from London soon to begin implementing plans for the new Miramax. As President of Miramax Films he will report to studio head Cook. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 26, 2005)
TLA Announces U.K. Division, DVD Arrangement with here! Networks and Staff Additions
Sporting a new logo, and announcing a round of new staff appointments, a deal with here! Networks and a new U.K. label, TLA Releasing unveiled its plans ahead of the VSDA's Home Entertainment 2005, the annual convention for the home entertainment industry, which begins today (Tuesday) in Las Vegas. Brian Brooks reports. (July 26, 2005)
Film Exec Esparza Spearheads Creation of Latino Cinema Chain; Production and Distribution Company
Film executive Moctesuma Esparza will lead a multi-pronged effort to serve the needs of English-speaking Latino moviegoers in the United States with a new chain of cinemas in addition to a plan to produce several feature films and television shows, as well as the establishment of a distribution company for Latino product. The 500-screen theater chain serving the Latino community will be a cornerstone of the project. Brian Brooks reports. (July 21, 2005)
Holedigger Films Announces Deal with Strand for "Gaul" North American Theatrical Release
New York-based independent film production-company Holedigger Films announced a consortium of companies will be involved with the release of Craig Lucas' Sundance 2005 feature, "The Dying Gaul," the group said Wednesday. Strand Releasing will open the film in theaters in North America this autumn, while Sony Pictures Home Entertainment signed on to handle the title's DVD/video release. Brian Brooks reports. (July 20, 2005)
"Penguins" Continue their Box office Onslaught; "On the Outs" Debuts Strong on One NYC Screen
Warner Independent Pictures and National Geographic Feature Films' "March of the Penguins" once again towered over the specialty box office, spawning another weekend at the head of the iW BOT, as measured on a per screen basis. The film also handily took the lions share of the entire indie gross for the weekend, with about 40% of the entire box office take for the three-day period ending Sunday, July 17. Self-distributed feature "On the Outs" opened at one New York venue, placing second, while Sony Pictures Classics' "Saraband" took the third placement, after adding a pair of showings. Lions Gate's Sundance 2005 opener, "Happy Endings," meanwhile, placed fourth, debuting over the weekend on over several dozen screens. Brian Brooks reports. (July 20, 2005)
With Three New Categories, IFP Continues Push to Distinguish Gothams Among Busy Awards
Further distinguishing the Gotham Awards from other awards season events, the IFP will add three new categories to this year's ceremony. While still using working titles, the brand new categories will honor best ensemble cast, best use of the arts in a film, and best film not playing in theaters. HBO doc and family programming president Sheila Nevins and producer Bob Yari have been named co- chairs of 15th annual event, set for Pier Sixty in Manhattan on November 30th. Other competitive awards set for the annual Gotham Awards ceremony include Best Feature, Best Documentary, Breakthrough Actor and Breakthrough Director. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 19, 2005)
Kaufman Pursues Production Plans, Post-Focus
Later this year, Focus Features EVP of production Amy Kaufman will branch out as an independent producer, taking on the role of producer or exec. producer of unnamed Focus and Rogue Pictures projects. She is leaving the Indiewood post she has held since the company was formed three years ago. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 14, 2005)
Capital Sets Release of Sachs' "Forty Shades"; Sundance Takes TV Rights
Ira Sachs' "Forty Shades of Blue," winner of the American Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival this year has secured distribution in theaters, on DVD and via cable television. Upstart distributor Capital Entertainment, headed by CEO Harry Winterstern and president Richard Williams, will open the film in theaters in September, before a DVD release and then a pay television premiere on Sundance Channel next year. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 14, 2005)
"Penguins" Nest at Number One, "Saraband" and "Murderball" Have Moderate Debuts
Veteran iW BOT performers "March of the Penguins," and "Me and You and Everyone We Know" maintained momentum last weekend on the specialty chart, ranked on a per screen basis. Warner Independent Pictures' "Penguins" once again migrated to the apex of the chart with a brilliant screen average in its third week, while IFC Films' "Me and You" saw momentum in additional theaters, placing fourth on the chart. Sony Classics' "Saraband" took the second position in the list, while THINKFilm's anticipated doc, "Murderball" kicked off in over a half-dozen sites, placing third. Brian Brooks reports (July 13, 2005)
Mandoki's "Voices" Set for U.S. Release
A distribution plan has been set for Luis Mandoki's "Innocent Voices" ("Voces Inocentes") with a late September release on tap for the film, set in El Salvador and following a young boy dealing with war and growing up. BB Entertainment Marketing has acquired all North American rights to the movie and will work with Slowhand Cinema to distribute the movie in theaters around the country. Ben Barbosa's BB Entertainment acquired the movie from producer Lawrence Bender's company and has contracted Terry Hines and Associates to work with them on the release as well. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 13, 2005)
Outfest and UCLA Launch "Legacy Project" to Preserve and Archive Queer Cinema
Citing a need to preserve the history of gays and lesbians told through important film and video work by queer filmmakers, and with a goal of building a publicly accessible library of films by and about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, Outfest is partnering with the UCLA Film And Television Archive to create the Outfest Legacy Project for LGBT Film Preservation. On an opening night here in Los Angeles that included a public appearance by new mayor Antonio Villaraigoso, Outfest executive director Stephen Gutwillig announced the plans to cheers from the full house crowd. According to Outfest and UCLA, the move will create the largest publicly accessible collection of LGBT films in the world and will preserve both classic and future queer film and video. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 12, 2005)
Leisure Time Sets "Henri Langlois" and "4" For U.S. Release
Jacques Richard's documentary, "Henri Langlois: Phantom of the Cinematheque" has been acquired by Leisure Time Features for U.S. distribution, the company announced Monday. A 128-minute version of the film will premiere at the Film Forum in New York City on October 12 for a two week run followed by a national release. Brian Brooks reports. (July 12, 2005)
SXSW Winner "Hooligans" Picked up by New Outfit, Odd Lot
Lexi Alexander's South by Southwest 2005 award-winning feature "Hooligans" has been picked up by the newly formed distribution outlet Odd Lot Entertainment (OLE), company heads Gigi Pritzker and Deborah Del Prete announced this weekend. The film, which has been re-titled "Green Street Hooligans," stars Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, and Claire Forlani and will be released September 9th in the U.S. Brian Brooks reports. (July 11, 2005)
"Penguins" Flock to Number One Again; "The Beat That My Heart Skipped" Finds Strong Box office Pulse
Luc Jacquet's doc "March of the Penguins" preyed on the specialty box office once again in its second weekend in theaters, scoring the premier position on the iW BOT, ranked on a per screen basis, following an expansion. The film, a Warner Independent Pictures release, grossed the second most dollars on the list, following Lions Gate's "Rize." Wellspring's French feature "The Beat That My Heart Skipped" by Jacques Audiard opened in limited engagements over the Friday to Monday July 4th weekend, wrestling the second placement on the chart with a solid debut, while IFC Films' "Me and You and Everyone We Know" came in up to par following its expansion, ranking third on the iW BOT. Brian Brooks reports. (July 07, 2005)
Hal Hartley Takes Latest Film to Netflix for DVD Release
Following up on its recent DVD release of Tim Robbins' "Embedded Live," Netflix has announced a deal to distribute Hal Hartley's "The Girl From Monday." The exclusive DVD release will be promoted by the online movie rental company, debuting later this month. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 06, 2005)
Post-Indie: With Shapiro Now at the Helm, IFC Embraces "My Media" and "TV, Uncut"
As insiders and trade reporters debate the state of theatrical moviegoing, executives charged with delivering movies to viewer's homes are exploring new ways to reach audiences. In the case of the Independent Film Channel, now known simply as IFC, new EVP and General Manager Evan Shapiro is pursuing a strategy he's branded simply as "tv, uncut." The ten-year-old channel is shedding its indie film roots as it aims to reach a generation of viewers that embrace new technologies and watch movies and TV programs in less traditional ways. Eugene Hernandez reports. (July 05, 2005)
"Penguins" March to Box Office Heights
Warner Independent Pictures and National Geographic Feature Films' "March of the Penguins" stomped the competition in the specialty box office last weekend, dominating the iW BOT summit, ranked on a per screen basis. Last week's first placer, "Me and You and Everyone We Know" remained strong in second place on the chart, following an L.A. expansion, while newcomer "Elevator to the Gallows" placed third at one showing. Self- distributed film "The Talent Given Us" remained solid at two locations, as the director announced an agreement with Landmark to screen the film at various locations around the country, and Lions Gate's "Rize" debuted in hundreds of screens, becoming the chart's largest grosser, although its overall average was mediocre. Brian Brooks reports. (June 29, 2005)
The Downfall: Foreign Language Hits Are Few and Far Between in 2005
While the big studios lament the slowdown of summer business, there's another casualty at the box office this season: foreign language films. At the year's mid-point, 2005's biggest box office foreign grosser is Steven Chow's Chinese martial arts comedy "Kung Fu Hustle," at over $16.7 million. While that number may sound like cause for celebration, several distribution executives are quick to point out that high print-and-advertising costs on the wide-release picture (on over 2,500 screens) should temper any calls for rejoicing. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"'s slow-building $128 million, it's not. Anthony Kaufman reports. (June 29, 2005)
Sarah Silverman Film Set for November Release From Roadside
Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff's Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. theatrical and TV rights to "Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic," the duo announced Monday. The film, written by Silverman and directed by video director Liam Lynch, is based on comedian Silverman's off-Broadway show and screened at SXSW and the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. It was produced by Heidi Herzon, Mark Williams and Randy Sosin. Eugene Hernandez reports. (June 28, 2005)
Magnolia Pictures and Sony Home Entertainment Announce "Nine Lives" Pick Up Following LAFF Debut
Magnolia Pictures and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have jointly acquired North American rights to Rodrigo Garcia's Sundance 2005 feature "Nine Lives," the two companies announced Wednesday following the film's West Coast debut at the Los Angeles Film Festival the previous evening. Magnolia Pictures will theatrically release the film in September with subsequent DVD and video distribution to be handled by SPHE. Brian Brooks reports. (June 23, 2005)
Oscar-nominated "Twist of Faith" Set for Theatrical Release After HBO Debut
Kirby Dick's "Twist of Faith", which screened in competition at Sundance this year and was later nominated for an Oscar for best documentary, will be released theatrically after it airs later this month on HBO. Eugene Hernandez reports. (June 22, 2005)
No June Gloom for IFC Films' "Me and You and Everyone We Know"
IFC Films' "Me and You and Everyone We Know" resoundingly triumphed at the specialty box office over the weekend, scoring the highest per screen average of the week in recent memory at its debut at the new IFC Center in Manhattan. Self-distributed film, "The Talent Given Us" ranked second on the iW BOT, calculated on a per screen average, in limited release, while fellow theatrical newcomers "Heights" from Sony Classics, "The Great Water" from Cinema Guild, and Focus Features' "My Summer of Love" rounded out the chart's top five titles. "Mad Hot Ballroom" maintained its title as the specialty list's top earner, while the overall weekend "indie" grosses declined from the previous week's totals. Brian Brooks reports. (June 22, 2005)
Showtime and Vitagraph Scare Up "The Roost" for North America
Showtime and Vitagraph Films have acquired all North American rights to Ti West's debut feature, "The Roost," the two companies announced Tuesday. The film, which is currently screening at the Los Angeles Film Festival, is currently slated for initial theatrical release in early fall of this year, while Showtime will premiere the film on video and on television following the theatrical release. Brian Brooks reports. (June 22, 2005)
Lifesize Takes "Wall" for August Release
New Jersey specialty film distributor Lifesize Entertainment has acquired North American theatrical and DVD rights to Sundance 2005 feature, "Wall" (Mur) by Simone Bitton, the company announced Wednesday. Lifesize president Bruce Frigeri, and V.P. Jim McNally negotiated the deal with Loic Magneron of Paris-based sales company Wide Management. Lifesize plans a New York theatrical release in August. Brian Brooks reports. (June 16, 2005)
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