Peace Arch Entertainment Announces Completion of Licensing Agreements in Key International Markets for Four Feature Films at Influential Cannes Film Festival
Feature Films Include Company's 'Winged Creatures,' 'The Deal,' 'Watching the Detectives' and 'Animal 2'
May. 23, 2007 08:01 PM
CANNES, FRANCE -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/23/07 -- Peace Arch Entertainment Group Inc. (AMEX: PAE) (TSX: PAE), an innovative film and television entertainment company,
announced today that they have closed theatrical deals on several films in
key international territories at the Cannes Film Festival. The licensing
agreements further validate the Company's high-growth business as it
continues to expand its portfolio of film, television and DVD productions
to be distributed in lucrative international and domestic markets.
The films include the star-studded "Winged Creatures," sold to Imagem in
Latin America; AVE in Greece; IL Film in Israel; Lusomundo in Portugal;
Icon Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand; M&F in South Korea; Front
Row in the Middle East; Monolith in Poland; Blitz in the former Yugoslavia;
Lark Films Distribution in Hong Kong/Macau; and Entertainment in Motion for
airlines and ships.
Additional closed territories sold on "Winged Creatures" include the Czech
and Slovak Republics, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary. Other major
territories are currently in negotiation and those deals are expected to
close shortly. "Winged Creatures," currently in post-production, was
acquired last week by Sony for U.S. theatrical distribution.
"Winged Creatures," directed by Australian Rowan Woods ("Little Fish," "The
Boys") and produced by Robert Salerno ("21 Grams," "Chapter 27,"
"Delirious"), stars six of today's most celebrated actors, 2007 Academy
Award®-winner Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland," "Platoon"),
2007 Academy Award-winner Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls"), 2007 Academy
Award-nominee Jackie Earle Haley ("Little Children," "Bad News Bears"),
Screen Actors Guild Award-nominee Guy Pearce ("Memento," "LA
Confidential"), Screen Actors Guild Award-nominee Kate Beckinsale ("The
Aviator," "Pearl Harbor") and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominee Dakota
Fanning ("War of The Worlds," "I Am Sam").
Other films that Peace Arch sold at Cannes include the romantic comedy "The
Deal," starring William H. Macy ("Thank You For Smoking," "The Cooler,"
"Fargo"), Meg Ryan ("When Harry Met Sally," "Sleepless In Seattle," "You've
Got Mail"), LL Cool J ("Deep Blue Sea," "Any Given Sunday") and Elliott
Gould ("Ocean's Eleven," "MASH").
"The Deal" was directed by Steven Schachter and is based on the popular
novel "The Deal: A Novel of Hollywood," by Peter Lefcourt. The romantic
comedy was sold to Fivia in Central and Eastern Europe; Imagem in Latin
America; Entertainment in Motion for airlines and ships; AVE in Greece; IL
Film in Israel; Luxor in Russia/CIS; Pa-Dora in Central and Eastern Europe;
Lusomundo in Portugal; Front Row in the Middle East; and Moonlight for
Benelux.
Also sold at Cannes, the romantic comedy "Watching the Detectives," which
recently world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is screening at
Cannes. The film stars Cillian Murphy ("The Wind That Shakes The Barley"
[Palme d'Or winner at 2006 Cannes Film Festival], "28 Days Later," "Batman
Begins," "Red Eye," "Girl With A Pearl Earring") and Lucy Liu ("Charlie's
Angels," "Kill Bill Vol. 1" & "Kill Bill Vol. 2," "Lucky Number Slevin").
This new film was sold to Luxor in Russia/CIS; Lusomundo in Portugal; and
Jaguar Distribution for in-flight entertainment.
The theatrical deals were negotiated by Julie Sultan, Peace Arch executive
vice president of international theatrical sales. "Introducing strong new
movies like 'Winged Creatures' and 'The Deal' resulted in keen interest
worldwide for all our titles," said Ms. Sultan. "In addition to the deals
already made, we have several more that we anticipate closing before the
market ends, including territory sales for 'Chapter 27,' 'Guantanamero,'
'In Tranzit' and 'Delirious.'"
Peace Arch completed deals for television and DVD rights on numerous films
including the drama sequel "Animal 2" starring Ving Rhames to Moviebank in
Benelux; Eagle Entertainment in Australia; Lusomundo in Portugal; and
Bronson in Germany; DVD rights to Spain to TOT Media; thriller "Final
Draft" starring James Van Der Beek to Lusomundo in Portugal; and Bronson in
Germany; and family feature "Luna: Spirit of The Whale" starring Adam Beach
and Jason Priestley to Lusomundo in Portugal.
In addition, the company sold TV and DVD rights to Bridge Rights in Benelux
for the following titles: "Nightmare," "Ultimate Killing Machine," "The
Last Sect," and "Heartstopper," and sold DVD rights to NU METRO in
Australia for the three titles: "Bottom Feeder," "Animal 2," and "Harm's
Way." Peace Arch's international television and DVD sales are managed at
Cannes by executive vice president Mary Herne and senior vice president
Suzanne Barron.
In addition to Peace Arch Entertainment's expanding library of motion
pictures, the Company's current line-up of feature films includes two of
the favorites at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival: the drama "Chapter 27"
starring Jared Leto and Lindsay Lohan. Also screening at Cannes is
"Delirious," a comedy starring Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Alison Lohman,
Gina Gershon and Elvis Costello.
Peace Arch Entertainment produces and acquires feature films, television
and home entertainment content for distribution to worldwide markets. Peace
Arch owns one of the largest libraries of top quality independent feature
films in the world, featuring more than 500 classic and contemporary
titles. Through its subsidiary, Peace Arch Home Entertainment, Peace Arch
is also one of the leading distributors of DVDs and related products in
Canada. For additional information, please visit www.peacearch.com.
This press release includes statements that may constitute forward-looking
statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project,"
"expect," or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such
differences include, but are not limited to, continued acceptance of the
Company's products and services in the marketplace, competitive factors,
dependence upon third-party vendors, availability of capital and other
risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the
Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions
or changes after the date of this release.
Distributed by Filing Services Canada and retransmitted by Market Wire
Contact:
Roy Bodner
Vice President Public Relations
Peace Arch Entertainment
(310) 776-7208
Email Contact: Email Contact
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