Drafthouse Films Inks Domestic Distribution Deal With Image Entertainment, Appoints New Chief of Operations

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse, announced today from The American Film Market that it has entered a U.S. distribution deal with Image Entertainment, Inc., a leading licensee and distributor of programming throughout North America, solidifying itself as major player in the independent distribution arena. The exclusive distribution deal will span home video, digital, television and VOD platforms helping to further expand the ever-growing Alamo Drafthouse entertainment lifestyle brand. Drafthouse Films will release both new product and repertory titles as part of the deal with Image Entertainment.

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Drafthouse Films also announced today that it has acquired North American rights to award-winning films, the riveting crime drama BULLHEAD, Belgium's official 2012 Oscar® candidate for Best Foreign Language Film and the outrageous international hit comedy, CLOWN. Michael Roskam's BULLHEAD is a stunning debut and a harrowing tale of revenge, redemption and fate. The film has played to critical acclaim at Berlin Film Festival, Fantasia and Fantastic Fest and was called "one of the most powerful experiences I've had in a film this year" (Drew McWeeny, HitFix). Mikkel Nogaard's CLOWN has been hailed as "the funniest movie of the year!" (Matt Singer, IFC) and "raunchy, fearless and awesome!" (Eric Kohn, indieWIRE). The uproarious comedy follows two wildly inappropriate friends as they run amok through the Danish countryside plowing through social taboos and unspeakable debaucheries. Also planned for Drafthouse Films in 2012 are the recently announced releases of SXSW '11 favorite THE FP and the stunning new RealD™ 3D restoration of '80s cult hit COMIN' AT YA!

As part of their plans to ramp their acquisitions and build the label, Drafthouse Films also made public today it appointed James Emanuel Shapiro, former Executive Director of Sales Planning and Acquisitions for Anchor Bay Entertainment, as the company's new Chief Operating Officer. James has been with the acquisitions and sales planning teams at Anchor Bay Entertainment since 2006 and helped build Anchor Bay Films into a top full service independent distribution company. While at Anchor Bay, James oversaw home video releases on everything from fest favorites like Paul Solet's GRACE and Raymond De Felitta's CITY ISLAND to TV content like AMC's THE WALKING DEAD and the Starz® original SPARTACUS to Overture and The Weinstein Company releases such as LET ME IN, BLUE VALENTINE, and this year's Best Picture winner THE KING'S SPEECH.

"We are ecstatic about adding BULLHEAD and CLOWN to our growing lineup of films. They perfectly embody the bold and diverse slate that we plan to release under Drafthouse Films, and Image Entertainment is the perfect partner to help us get the broadest possible reach for them," said Drafthouse Films founder Tim League.

"We are thrilled at being part of Alamo's expansion," commented Mark Ward, Vice President of Acquisitions at Image. "It's going to be a pleasure working with them, releasing product fans will really enjoy."

The deal is being negotiated by Mark Ward and Jess De Leo, Associate Director of Business and Legal Affairs on behalf of Image; Tim League, Founder and CEO of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Victoria Cook of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz and Liesl Copland of WME Global on behalf of Drafthouse Films.  

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For more information on Image Entertainment visit
http://www.image-entertainment.com

About Drafthouse Films

Drafthouse Films, the distribution arm of Alamo Drafthouse, debuted in 2010 with the theatrical release of FOUR LIONS and was named one of Time Magazine's "Top 10 Films Of The Year." Drafthouse Films is dedicated to scouring the globe in search of visionary, provocative and diverse features to integrate into the ever-growing Alamo Drafthouse entertainment lifestyle brand, which along with the Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas includes: Mondo, the collectible art boutique; Fantastic Fest, the largest international genre film festival in the US; and the pop culture website Badass Digest. Drafthouse Films will distribute films theatrically and through home video, VOD and direct to consumer sales.  The 2012 release slate includes the stunning HD RealD™ restoration of '80s cult western COMIN' AT YA! 3D, Michael R. Roskam's award-winning debut feature and Oscar® candidate BULLHEAD, Mikkel Norgaard's internationally acclaimed comedy CLOWN, and SXSW '11 favorite THE FP which Moviefone calls "a rare ready-made cult hit." Together with producing partners Magnolia Pictures and Timpson Films, Drafthouse Films is also currently in production on the much-anticipated THE ABC's OF DEATH -- an anthology film featuring segments by 26 different directors that Fangoria calls "a stunning roll call of some of the most exciting names in horror across the world."

ABOUT WME

WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production.  WME also advises some of the world's most recognized consumer brands to create entertainment-based marketing solutions. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, WME also has offices in New York, Nashville, London and Miami.

ABOUT BULLHEAD

Perhaps the year's most stunning international debut, Michael R. Roskam's BULLHEAD is a harrowing tale of revenge, redemption and fate. Domineering cattle farmer Jacky Vanmarsenille (Mattias Schoenaerts in a ferocious breakout performance), constantly pumped on steroids and hormones, initiates a shady deal with a notorious mafioso meat trader. When an investigating federal agent is assassinated and a woman from his traumatic past resurfaces, Jacky must confront his demons and face the far-reaching consequences of his decisions. Acclaimed at festivals worldwide including the Berlin Film Festival, Fantasia and Fantastic Fest, the award-winning BULLHEAD is visceral saga bursting with rage that TwitchFilm calls "one of the most original crime films in recent memory."

ABOUT CLOWN

In what critics are hailing as "the funniest movie of the year!" (IFC), CLOWN follows two wildly inappropriate friends (played by celebrated comedians Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen) as they run amok through the Danish countryside plowing through social taboos and unspeakable debaucheries. Misguided Frank kidnaps the nephew of his pregnant girlfriend in an eager attempt to prove his fatherhood potential while the sex-driven Casper is determined to visit a world-renowned brothel. Based on a popular six-season television show of the same name, this internationally acclaimed and award-winning saga of debauchery has indieWIRE proclaiming it "raunchy, fearless and awesome!"

ABOUT IMAGE

Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee and distributor of entertainment programming in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 340 exclusive CD titles in domestic release and more than 450 programs internationally via sublicense agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio and broadcast rights, as well as digital download rights to over 2,100 video programs and approximately 400 audio titles containing more than 6,000 individual tracks. The Company is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.

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SOURCE Drafthouse Films