Entertainment One announces Canadian distribution agreement with Yari Film Group
20 March 2008
AGREEMENT COVERS ALL YFG FEATURE FILMS THROUGH 2010
AGREEMENT COVERS ALL CANADIAN RIGHTS INCLUDING INTERNET
Los Angeles, USA & Toronto, Canada, March 20 2008: Canadian distribution powerhouse Entertainment One (E1) and Yari Film Group (YFG) announced today that Entertainment One will be the exclusive distributor for YFG pictures in Canada through 2010. The term begins immediately following the first YFG theatrical release in Canada via E1’s subsidiary, Seville Pictures. The partnership marks another milestone in E1’s rapid growth, reinforcing the diversity of feature films it continues to offer.
“We have the greatest confidence and respect for Patrice Théroux and David Reckziegel and the entire team at E1,” stated David Glasser, YFG’s Chief Creative Officer. “E1 has moved very quickly to establish itself as a dominant film distribution company in Canada and we couldn’t be happier than to have them take over the distribution of our films in Canada.”
“I am delighted to forge this partnership with Yari Film Group, a company that has shown a distinct ability in producing and distributing some of the best quality films in recent years,” said David Reckziegel, co-president of Seville Pictures. “Their current production schedule is very exciting and we are looking forward to bringing these films to Canadian movie audiences.”
Entertainment One’s Théroux adds, “This new agreement consolidates our position in Canada as one of the emerging forces in the Canadian film distribution sector. It is very gratifying to garner so much support for our vision of growth from all of the various film producers around the world and be given the opportunity to re-define the balance of power in Canada and globally.”
The deal, brokered between E1’s Filmed Entertainment president Théroux, Seville Picture’s president Reckziegel, and YFG’s Glasser, provides the opportunity for E1 to garner a stronger foothold in the Canadian marketplace with an additional 10 annual theatrical releases projected.
Yari Film Group’s past productions include THE ILLUSIONIST, starring Golden Globe® winner Edward Norton and Jessica Biel; Paul Haggis’ multiple Academy Award® winning feature CRASH; THE HOAX directed by Lasse Halström with a screenplay by William Wheeler, based on a book by Clifford Irving and starring Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Academy Award® winner Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Julie Delpy and Stanley Tucci; Golden Globe® winner THE PAINTED VEIL; PRIME starring the acclaimed award-winning Meryl Streep, Uma Thurman and Bryan Greenberg; HOSTAGE starring Golden Globe® winner Bruce Willis; the critically-acclaimed comedy THE MATADOR featuring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis; and LAWS OF ATTRACTION starring Pierce Brosnan and Academy Award® nominee Julianne Moore.
YFG’s current and upcoming feature releases include Joe Carnahan’s KILLING PABLO featuring Christian Bale; THE LONELY MAIDEN from director Peter Hewitt, written by Michael LeSieur and starring Academy Award® winners Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, Golden Globe® winner William H. Macy and Marcia Gay Harden; and Rod Lurie’s NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH starring an acclaimed all-star cast including Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett and Alan Alda.
The first release to fall under the arrangement will be YFG’s ASSASSINATION OF A HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDENT featuring Mischa Barton, Reece Thompson and Bruce Willis which is currently slated for release in August 2008.
For further information, 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 Editors:
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE: ETO) AIM listed, Entertainment One Ltd's strategy is to build a leading global independent entertainment content ownership and distribution business which acquires films, television programs and music content and exploits these rights in all media throughout the world. Entertainment One is one of the world’s leading international entertainment companies with operations in Canada, the U.S, Holland, Belgium and the UK, where it distributes, acquires and owns filmed entertainment and music content in all medias. Entertainment One also owns Koch Entertainment, the largest independent record label in North America and a leading independent distributor of music and video in the United States. www.entertainmentonegroup.com
Yari Film Group is recognized as one of the
premier power houses for independent films since its founding five
years ago. Know for collaborating with filmmakers and bringing
forth the creative visions of veterans such as Lasse
Hallström, Paul Haggis, and Sidney Lumet, and first-time
writers and directors, the YFG philosophy is to seek out innovative
stories and storytellers to reach audiences on a global
level.
www.yarifilmgroup.com