DreamWorks Studios Announces Initial Strategic Partnerships with Entertainment One, Constantin Film, Nordisk Film and Italia Film
LONDON & TORONTO & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DreamWorks Studios is pleased to announce that through their newly created collaboration with Mister Smith Entertainment, they have concluded the first of many key partnership deals with independent distribution companies Entertainment One (eOne), announced earlier; Constantin Film; Nordisk Film; and Italia Film; reflecting the previously announced shift in DreamWorks' international strategy.
These deals signal the first phase of DreamWorks' plans to create a network of partnerships for their product across all of Europe, Africa and The Middle East with the top independent distributors. This strategy will provide the Company with additional financial flexibility, while also taking advantage of a burgeoning global market.
"On behalf of Steven and Stacey, we are so excited to be in business with international partners we consider the ‘best of breed’ and a perfect match for our films. Partnering with industry leaders at eOne, Constantin, Nordisk, and Italia, we know our films will be handled with the utmost skill and creativity by their distribution teams. This new network of relationships encapsulates the studio's vision for capitalizing on the growing global marketplace," said Jeff Small, DreamWorks' President and COO.
DreamWorks has entered into multi-year output agreements to distribute the company's films in all media with eOne for the UK and Benelux; with Italia Film for the Middle East; with Nordisk Film for Scandinavia; and with Constantin Film for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Other partnerships will be announced over the days and weeks ahead. DreamWorks’ domestic distributor, The Walt Disney Company, will continue to handle North America, Latin America, Asia, Russia and Australia. Reliance continues to finance production of DreamWorks’ films and hold distribution rights in India.
Mister Smith CEO David Garrett commented that the swift conclusion of these very complex deals in Toronto reflects the high level of enthusiasm in the international marketplace for DreamWorks' product and for exploring new ways to collaborate in the arenas of both production and distribution.
Martin Moszkowicz, a member of the executive board of Constantin Film said: "We take great pride in seeing Constantin included among the best distributors in each territory and being part of this strategic distribution partnership for the upcoming DreamWorks films. We look forward to working with the most iconic studio in Hollywood and with such a distinguished and dynamic group of people led by Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider and Jeff Small."
"We're thrilled to collaborate with Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider, Jeff Small and the entire DreamWorks team in the UK and Benelux. We’re delighted that their expansion aligns so well with eOne’s strategic international distribution infrastructure. We’re looking forward to working on DreamWorks’ premium slate and sharing many successes in the coming years," said Patrice Theroux, eOne’s President, Filmed Entertainment.
Kenneth Wiberg, Senior Vice President, Nordisk Film said: “We are extremely excited about being in business with a legendary Studio such as DreamWorks led by Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider and Jeff Small. This is an extraordinary opportunity to work with some of the most creative and dynamic people in Hollywood and to further expand on our current position as the leading distributor of high quality and commercial films. Combined with our existing Output Deal with Lionsgate and our outstanding position as distributor of Local content it will cement Nordisk Film’s position as a major distributor in the Nordic region in the years to come.”
Italia Film CEO/major Partner, Joseph Vincenti stated: “We are honored and thrilled to have been chosen with the great international Dream-team distribution companies to be part of this new adventure with DreamWorks and Mister Smith Entertainment. We are truly confident that the movie passion, enthusiasm, dynamism, long time experience and professionalism behind Steven Spielberg, Stacey Snider and Jeff Small can only lead to great cinematographic output & blockbuster titles that will surely top the box office in our region.”
The first film to go into production in the new slate will be the remake of French-Canadian film “Starbuck,” starring Vince Vaughn, which begins principal photography in October 2012 for release in 2013.
About DreamWorks
DreamWorks Studios is a motion picture company formed in 2009 and led by Steven Spielberg and Stacey Snider in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The company's recent releases include "Real Steel," starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Shawn Levy, Steven Spielberg's "War Horse," based on Michael Morpurgo's award-winning book and was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, and "The Help," which resonated with audiences around the country and earned over $200 million at the box office and received four Academy Award nominations with Octavia Spencer winning one for Best Supporting Actress. Its upcoming releases include Spielberg's "Lincoln" starring Daniel Day-Lewis.
DreamWorks Studios can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamWorksStudios and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dw_studios
About Mister Smith Entertainment
Led by CEO David Garrett, Mister Smith Entertainment is involved in the financing, co-financing and licensing of high-quality mainstream feature films and filmmaker driven movies for the global market. The company is a joint venture between Garrett and Constantin Film. Mister Smith Entertainment's current film slate includes Constantin Film's THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES, the first film in the highly anticipated action fantasy franchise based on Cassandra Clare's #1 best-selling book series, currently shooting in Toronto, and scheduled for release in August 2013 through Screen Gems; and the compelling true story 3,096 DAYS based on the autobiography of Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian girl who was held captive for over 8 years and whose escape made headlines around the world. The film is due for release in early 2013.
About Constantin Film
Constantin Film has been synonymous with quality and success for over 30 years. It has played a crucial role in establishing German cinema both nationally and internationally. Between 1977, when Bernd Eichinger established the company, and 2009, when it was integrated into media conglomerate Constantin Medien AG, Constantin Film emerged as the most successful independent production and distribution company in the German media industry. Constantin Film’s operations include German and English language motion picture theatrical production, theatrical distribution, home entertainment distribution, licensing and television production.
Constantin Film’s diverse slate includes box office hits and award-winning films alike, ranging from comic book to literary adaptations, historical dramas, action and genre, among them THE NEVERENDING STORY, THE FANTASTIC FOUR film franchise, THE NAME OF THE ROSE, WICKIE THE MIGHTY VIKING, NOWHERE IN AFRICA, DOWNFALL, THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX, PERFUME - THE STORY OF A MURDERER, THE HOUSE OF SPIRITS, and the RESIDENT EVIL film franchise. Upcoming films include 3,096 DAYS about real-life kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch and the highly anticipated film adaptation of Cassandra Clare’s #1 New York Times Bestseller THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES.
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 24,000 film and television titles, 2,700 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
About Nordisk Film
Nordisk Film was founded in 1906 and is one of the oldest still operating film companies in the world. Nordisk Film is part of the Egmont Group and the leading Nordic developer, producer and distributor of creative content in films and games. In addition to the output deal with DreamWorks, Nordisk Film has output deals with Lionsgate/ Summit, Relativity Media and Lava Bear. Nordisk Film works closely together with several of the leading production companies in the Nordic region, either as distributor/co-producer or co-owner. In recent years Nordisk Film has launched The Twilight Franchise, The Hunger Games and local blockbusters like the Millennium Trilogy, Easy Money, The Headhunters, A Royal Affair, Kon-Tiki and the recent Susanne Bier film Love is All you Need. Nordisk Film produces or co-produces more than 15 films annually. Nordisk Film and Zentropa own the international sales arm TrustNordisk, which is handling sales on 7 films included in this year’s Official TIFF Program. The titles that participated were Love is All you Need, A Royal Affair, Purge, Blondie, A Hijacking, Call Girl, and The Hunt.
Nordisk Film owns the number one cinema chain in Denmark and holds the Nordic distribution rights to Sony PlayStation. Nordisk Film also supplies production and post-production facilities to a number of Nordic film companies. In 2011, Nordisk Film generated a total revenue of EUR 334 million. The company has app. 1.000 employees in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
About Italia Film:
ITALIA FILM, a privately owned company, is the largest USA/European Independent films Buyer/Distributor for the Middle East in addition to being the Walt Disney Pictures exclusive distributor in the region since 1993. Italia Film has distributed, over the last 4 decades, the biggest Independent movies ever with a an average of 55-60 theatrical releases/year. Its CEO/major Partner: Joseph Vincenti, a pioneer and pillar of the movie industry in the region, has started the company in 1954 for the distribution of Italian films, at that time very popular, and then its activities were extended for the distribution of French and U.S. films. In 1993, Italia Film was appointed as Disney Pictures exclusive sub-distributors in the Middle East. Italia Film, is the only company in the Middle East, releasing the films distributed on a percentage basis with branch offices in each of: Dubai (United Arab Emirates): to supervise the distribution of our films in the Gulf States; Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Omam; Cairo (Egypt): to supervise the distribution of our films in Egypt; Amman (Jordan): to supervise the distribution of our films in Jordan; and Beirut (Lebanon): to supervise the distribution of our films in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan.
Italia Film Masters the distribution & marketing of children, family & Adults oriented movies due to very efficient ATL as well as BTL plans that involve tie-in partnerships, targeted Database & PR activities with schools and various organizations. Italia Film has over the last years been numerously been praised and awarded for its marketing activities by the Independent Companies it distributes as well as by Disney who has also for several years in row named I.F. as: Most Profitable& Biggest Contributor Sub-Distributor Market (Middle East).
No comments:
Post a Comment