Contender Entertainment Group appoints Alex Hamilton as Director of Contender Films
05 March 2008
London, March 5, 2008: Richard Bridgwood, Managing Director of Contender Entertainment Group (CEG), one of the UK's fastest growing media businesses, today announced the appointment of Alex Hamilton as Director of Contender Films, CEG’s feature film theatrical distribution and operations division. The appointment is effective April 1st.
With more than 10 years' experience of UK and international theatrical distribution and sales, Hamilton will be responsible for all aspects of Contender Film’s theatrical output in the UK and Eire, reporting directly to Bridgwood.
Commenting on Hamilton’s appointment, Contender’s Richard Bridgwood said: “Alex’s experience in building successful theatrical distribution businesses made him a stand out candidate in a highly accomplished field. We are delighted that Alex will be spearheading our expansion in this area and look forward to him joining our growing team.”
Adds Hamilton: “I am thrilled to be joining such an exciting and forward thinking group, and believe that Contender Films and Entertainment One are perfectly placed to thrive in an increasingly dynamic and competitive market.”
Hamilton most recently served as President of Icon Film Distribution, overseeing the acquisition and/or release in the UK of titles such as Gabor Csupo’s acclaimed BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, David Slade’s 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, Woody Allen’s Academy Award® nominated MATCH POINT, Tom Vaughan’s STARTER FOR 10, and the Academy Award® winning LA VIE EN ROSE.
Prior to Icon, Hamilton was Director of Sales and Business Development at Momentum Pictures, where he oversaw the UK theatrical release of Sofia Coppola’s Academy Award® and BAFTA® winning LOST IN TRANSLATION, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s AMELIE, Michel Gondry’s Academy Award® winning ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, and Peter Mullan’s THE MAGADELENE SISTERS, winner of the Golden-Lion Award in Venice 2002.
Contender Entertainment Group is a rights ownership and exploitation business and is the leading independent distributor of content on DVD in the UK. Its core business is the acquisition of film and television content for release in theatres, on home-entertainment platforms and sales to broadcasters. Through its division Contender Films, the business acquires rights to distribute feature films in cinemas. Through its Licensing and Distribution divisions Contender also exploits in the UK and internationally its children's content developed and produced by the in-house creative team of Rubber Duck Entertainment.
The Contender Entertainment Group is owned by Entertainment One, a leading global independent entertainment content ownership and distribution business.
For further information or to interview Alex Hamilton or Richard Bridgwood, please contact:
DDA Public Relations
Lawrence Atkinson
E: lawrence.atkinson@ddapr.com
T: +44 (0) 20 7932 9800
Alice Gledhill Hall
E:
alice.gledhillhall@ddapr.com
T: +44 (0) 20 7932 9800
Note to the Editors:
Contender Entertainment Group. (CEG)
Contender Entertainment Group (CEG) was founded in 1995 and was
acquired by Entertainment One Ltd in the summer of 2007. CEG is one
of the UK's fastest growing media businesses. In December 2002 CEG
entered the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 companies
at position 51, and in April 2004 the company ranked 18th in the
Deloitte Indy 100 list of companies showing sustained sales and
profit growth over five years. CEG’s expertise lies in
theatrical & home video distribution, TV production and
distribution, and licensing and merchandising. The company operates
across a number of genres, which include Film, Children’s, TV
drama and General/Factual Entertainment.
With a true independent spirit, CEG’s service oriented
philosophy has been a backbone of the company’s success.
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO)
Admitted to trading on AIM on 29 March 2007, Entertainment One Ltd’s strategy is to build a leading international independent entertainment content ownership and distribution business which acquires filmed product for distribution in theatrical, television, cable, satellite and DVD markets throughout the world. Entertainment One is the largest distributor of home entertainment products in the Canadian market. With the acquisition of Seville Entertainment in Canada, it will become an increasing presence in the theatrical and international sales markets as well. Entertainment One also owns Contender, one of the leading independent UK distributors of filmed entertainment, and Koch Entertainment, the largest independent record label in North America and a leading independent distributor of music and video in the United States.