Every week, I get several press releases, screening invitations and other notifications from a handful of studio contacts. While I won’t be sharing any information regarding my screening invites, some of the press releases might be of interest to my readers, so I thought I’d start sharing them in toto with all of you. These could include new image galleries for various films or important updates to upcoming releases from various smaller studios and art house production companies.

• Image Gallery: The Lego Movie
• Press Release: “Watchtower” Releases on DVD February 18
• Press Release: Interscope Records to Release Soundtrack for “Divergent”
• Press Release: Sundance Channel Explores Celebrities’ Influence in Third Special of Four
• Press Release: XYZ Films to Handle International Sales for “Tusk”
• Press Release: Myriad Pictures Handling International Sales for “You’re Not You”

Image Gallery: The Lego Movie

View the Gallery Here

Press Release: “Watchtower” Releases on DVD February 18

WATCHTOWER AVAILABLE ON DVD AND DIGITAL FEBRUARY 18th

Quiet charmer from director Pelin Esmer premiered at Toronto International Film Festival

January 21, 2013 (NY, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that WATCHTOWER, the quietly compelling drama from Turkey, will be available to own on DVD and digital on February 18, 2014. This third feature from filmmaker Pelin Esmer explores guilt, morality and conscience through its isolated locations and complex characters, and creates a poignant and effective drama charged with psychological and emotional energy.

WATCHTOWER premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to an enthusiastic crowd of festival goers, won many of the top prizes at the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival in Turkey, and then appeared in official competition at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.

All Film Movement DVD releases include a short film – this release includes the American short film THE FOREIGNER, by Alethea Avramis, making the release a female filmmaker double-feature. THE FOREIGNER, 17 minutes in length, follows one American on holiday who may change the fate of a small Greek village struggling to survive.

An official selection at the Seattle International Film Festival, WATCHTOWER will be available on DVD at Film Movement, and also through major retailers such as Amazon.com. The film will be available to stream directly from Film Movement for just $3.99; online streaming begins February 18th and can be accessed here. Additionaly, Amazon Instant will make the film available for rent and download beginning February 18th.

Synopsis of WATCHTOWER:
Haunted by a tragic incident, Nihat isolates hilmself by becoming a fire warden in a remote observation tower in the wilderness. Seher lives in a makeshift room at a rural bus station, having taken a job as a bus hostess to escape her own traumatic past. Destined to come to a crossroads, they go about their solitary lives until their fates collide. Beginning at first as muted antagonism, their relationship quickly turns into tender domesticity as they settle together at Nihat’s moutain-side watchtower. Yet the weight of the past presses on the silence between them, serving as the ultimate catalyst in their impassioned relationship with each other.

About Film Movement:
Launched in 2003, Film Movement is a full-service North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, based in New York City. Film Movement has released more than 250 feature films and shorts from 50 countries on six continents, including top prize winners from Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Berlin, Tribeca and other prestigious festivals. Film Movement releases its films through numerous distribution channels, including thousands of art-house cinemas, universities and libraries; home video (Netflix and Amazon); television outlets (Sundance Channel, HBO, IFC and Showtime); Cable Video on Demand (including its very own branded cable VOD platform—Film Festival on Demand—available in over 40 million US homes); In-flight Entertainment (Alaska Airlines, Air Canada and United/Continental,) and broadband outlets (iTunes, Hulu, Amazon and YouTube).

Press Release: Interscope Records to Release Soundtrack for “Divergent”

INTERSCOPE RECORDS TO RELEASE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK TO SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT’S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FEATURE FILM DIVERGENT ALBUM FEATURES NEW MUSIC FROM CHERRYTREE RECORDING ARTIST ELLIE GOULDING AND INTERSCOPE RECORDING ARTIST ZEDD, PLUS MORE ARTISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED EXCLUSIVE PRE-ORDER BEGINS FRIDAY, JANUARY 24th ON DIVERGENTSOUNDTRACK.COM

January 23, 2014 — Santa Monica, CA — Interscope Records will partner with Summit Entertainment, a LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF) company, to release the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to the futuristic action-adventure film Divergent on March 11, 2014. The soundtrack will feature a brand-new song by multi-platinum British singer/ songwriter Ellie Goulding, titled “Beating Heart” as well as songs from Goulding’s sophomore album, Halcyon. Goulding will also contribute vocals for the film’s score composed by Grammy® nominated and multi-platinum electronic artist Junkie XL and executive produced by Grammy® and Oscar®-winning composer Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight, Inception).

The film, which is based on the bestselling novel Divergent by Veronica Roth and hailed as the most highly anticipated movie of 2014 by social media research firm Fizziology, will be released in theaters and on IMAX® screens nationwide on March 21st.

“We started working on the film with songs from Ellie Goulding’s album Halcyon and soon found that the texture of her music and the tone of her voice matched perfectly with our film,” said director, Neil Burger. “In many ways Ellie has become the inner voice of our heroine Tris.”

In addition to “Beating Heart,” the soundtrack album will feature new music by multi-platinum, Grammy® nominated artist Zedd (the track “Find You,” featuring Matthew Koma and Miriam Bryant) and more artists to be announced soon.

North American fans can pre-order Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack exclusively at www.divergentsoundtrack.com starting Friday, January 24th. Pre-order bundle options include the soundtrack on 12″ picture disc vinyl, as well as a pre-order exclusive poster with the names of fans who order, plus more to be announced soon.

Divergent is the first installment in the Divergent Trilogy, which were the top three (3) best-selling books of 2013 according to USA Today. The story is set within a future world where people are divided into distinct factions based on their personalities, and Tris Prior, played by Shailene Woodley, is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late.

Divergent is directed by Neil Burger from a screenplay by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, based on the novel by Veronica Roth. The film stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Cortney, Ray Stevenson, Zoё Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, and Kate Winslet.

Press Release: Sundance Channel Explores Celebrities’ Influence in Third Special of Four

SUNDANCE CHANNEL EXPLORES CELEBRITIES’ INFLUENCE IN THE THIRD OF FOUR ALL-NEW SPECIALS HOSTED BY FASHION EXPERT JOE ZEE

“Revealing: Celebutante” Premiering Wednesday February 5th

Features Expert Commentary from Jean Paul Gaultier, Carolina Herrera, Iman and More

New York, NY – January 23, 2014 –Sundance Channel continues its ongoing probe into the fashion industry and society’s obsession with celebrity in the third of four all-new specials hosted by ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee, “Revealing: Celebutante,” airing Wednesday, February 5th at 9 pm ET/PT. Through compelling social experiments and in-depth interviews with industry insiders, Zee reveals the power of fame.

The world loves celebrities, and the fashion world can’t get enough of them. The right look and enough exposure can turn almost anyone into a fashion icon. Meanwhile style bloggers often garner more of the limelight than the runway shows they’re covering. In this special, ELLE Creative Director Joe Zee pokes at the fame bubble to reveal what drives our obsession with celebrity and what it takes to become one. Can he create an overnight media sensation from scratch during New York Fashion Week? With help from experts like Carolina Herrera, Tom & Lorenzo, and Simon Doonan, Zee examines the ever-growing, ever-twisted relationship between fame and fashion.

In one social experiment two men run errands in New York City; one is an ordinary man, the other is a Tom Cruise look-alike. Will they be treated differently by those they encounter? In another experiment Zee asks a group of people to look at various high and low end celebrity designed wardrobe items next to pieces from a mass retailer. Can they separate celebrity designed clothes from mass produced ones? And will they be able to identify the star that designed them? Lastly, Zee holds a faux reality show casting call and invites people to do outrageous things to be cast. How far will the average person go to achieve fame?

Contributing their views on fame and fashion are: fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier; fashion bloggers Tom & Lorenzo; Barneys Creative Ambassador-at-Large Simon Doonan; Women’s Wear Daily Executive Editor Bridget Foley; legendary supermodel China Machado; CEO, People’s Revolution Kelly Cutrone; Into the Gloss Founder and Creative Director Emily Weiss; fashion photographer, blogger and Advanced Style author Ari Seth Cohen; stylist Leslie Fremar; journalist and Bargain Fever author Mark Ellwood; The Marketing Arm Entertainment Director Robert Familetti; Photographer, Blogger and creator of TheSatorialist.com Scott Schuman; Wall Street Journal columnist Teri Agins; fashion blogger Bryanboy; Columbia University History Professor David Eisenbach; and fashion historian Valerie Steele. Returning from “Revealing: Extravagance” to weigh in are model, actress and entrepreneur Iman and fashion designer Carolina Herrera.

As the creative director for ELLE magazine since 2007, Zee has helped to further elevate the publication into the successful fashion magazine that is today. He began his career at Allure Magazine and from there became the fashion director at W Magazine, then contributing editor for Details and Vanity Fair. He has also been creative eye behind advertising campaigns for brands including DKNY, Perry Ellis, Kenneth Cole, Sean John, Banana Republic, H&M, Estee Lauder, M.A.C. Cosmetics, Chanel, Coty and others.

About Sundance Channel
Sundance Channel is the destination for What’s Next, Now. Showcasing both today’s creative icons and the emerging talent of tomorrow, Sundance Channel tells credible, authentic, and emotionally immersive stories of Invention, Fashion, Film, Travel, Design, and Enterprise. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc, Sundance Channel provides perspectives dedicated to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity. sundancechannel.com

About AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global, an international programming business, and AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming feed origination and distribution company.

Press Release: XYZ Films to Handle International Sales for “Tusk”

XYZ FILMS TO HANDLE INTERNATIONAL SALES RIGHTS TO KEVIN SMITH’S HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED MONSTER MOVIE ’TUSK’

A24 plans a wide theatrical release in the third quarter of 2014

Film stars Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment Genesis Rodriguez and Michael Parks

Los Angeles, CA (January 23, 2014) – XYZ Films has partnered with Demarest Films and A24 on Kevin Smith’s epic new horror film, TUSK, coming aboard to handle all international sales rights. The film, also written by Smith and born out of one of his immensely popular SModcasts, stars Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez and Michael Parks. Demarest (A MOST WANTED MAN, MACHETE KILLS) financed and produced TUSK in partnership with New York-based distributor A24 (SPRING BREAKERS, THE BLING RING), who will release it wide in the third quarter of 2014. XYZ will be introducing the project, currently in production, to international buyers at the European Film Market in February.

TUSK is a modern-day monster movie that follows a journalist named Wallace (Long) who finds the story of a lifetime in Mr. Howe (Parks), a worldwide adventurer with amazing tales and a curious penchant for walruses.

“It’s an honor to support the work of Kevin Smith, a filmmaker we’ve revered for years. His bold and uncompromising vision for TUSK is a game-changer and one that we know will yield a memorable film that will leave audiences breathless,” says XYZ Films.

Demarest’s Sam Englebardt commented: “XYZ Films has incredible taste, particularly in the world of horror, so we are thrilled that they will be our partner on this groundbreaking film from Kevin Smith.”

Tusk was produced by Sam Englebardt, William D. Johnson, and David Greathouse for Demarest Films and Shannon McIntosh for Smith’s SModcast Pictures banner. Jennifer Schwalbach is executive producer.

XYZ executive produced and handled international sales on the hit action film THE RAID: REDEMPTION, which was released by Sony Pictures Classics. They are also handling international sales on Sundance competition film LIFE AFTER BETH, starring Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Anna Kendrick, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Matthew Gray Gubler, Cheryl Hines, and Paul Reiser.

XYZ Films produced and is handling world sales on THE RAID 2, from writer/director Gareth Huw Evans as well as KILLERS, which is co-directed by Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel (The Mo Brothers). Both films are world premiering at Sundance 2014. XYZ also executive produced horror film DEAD SNOW: RED VS. DEAD, which also has its world premiere at Sundance.

About XYZ Films:
XYZ FILMS is an LA-based film production and sales company founded in 2008 by Bolotin, Spicer and Tertzakian, with partner Todd Brown joining the company in 2009.

About Demarest Films:
Funded with private capital, Demarest produces and finances a wide range of film and television projects. The firm was founded in 2011 by Johnson, Englebardt, and Michael Lambert.

About A24:
Launched in the summer of 2012, A24 is a New York-based media company focused on the distribution, financing and production and feature films.

Press Release: Myriad Pictures Handling International Sales for “You’re Not You”

MYRIAD PICTURES TO HANDLE INTERNATIONAL SALES ON “YOU’RE NOT YOU” STARRING ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER HILARY SWANK AT EFM IN BERLIN

Film is Produced by Prince Azim’s DPP in Association with Di Novi Pictures and 2S Films

SANTA MONICA January 23, 2014: Myriad Pictures announced today that it will handle international sales on the emotional drama You’re Not You, which stars two-time Academy Award Best Actress winner Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry, Million Dollar Baby), along with Emmy Rossum (Beautiful Creatures, The Phantom of the Opera, TV’s “Shameless”) and Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven, New Year’s Eve, the Transformers franchise). You’re Not You is directed by award-winning director George C. Wolfe (Nights in Rodanthe, Lackawanna Blues), from a screenplay written by Shana Feste (Country Strong) and Jordan Roberts (March of the Penguins), based upon the novel by Michelle Wildgen. Myriad will introduce the film to international buyers at the upcoming European Film Market in Berlin. CAA is representing the US rights.

YOU’RE NOT YOU is produced by DPP in association with Di Novi Pictures and 2S Films. Prince Azim is producing under his DPP banner along with Alison Greenspan of Di Novi Pictures, and Molly Smith and Hilary Swank under 2S Films. Executive producers include DPP’s Rhian Williams and Joanne Podmore, Denise Di Novi and Ellen H. Schwartz.

Myriad’s President and CEO, Kirk D’Amico, said “Hilary Swank and Emmy Rossum and the rest of the cast give impressive and beautiful performances. We are proud to be selling this accomplished and important film from director George C. Wolfe to buyers around the world.”

The film also features a stellar supporting cast, including Marcia Gay Harden (Academy Award winner for Pollock, Tony Award winner for “God of Carnage”); Julian McMahon (Fantastic Four, tv’s “Nip/Tuck”); Jason Ritter (Emmy nominee for “Parenthood,” “The Event”); Frances Fisher (upcoming The Host, The Unforgiven); Loretta Devine (Waiting to Exhale, Emmy winner for “Grey’s Anatomy,”); Ernie Hudson (“The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” the Ghostbusters films); Ali Larter (Resident Evil: Afterlife, tv’s “Heroes”); and Andrea Savage (Dinner For Schmucks, Stepbrothers).

You’re Not You tells the story of Kate (Hilary Swank), an accomplished woman in her 30’s whose perfectly ordered life is suddenly upended when she is diagnosed with the devastating and incurable disease ALS. Kate and her husband Evan (Josh Duhamel) must find a full time caregiver to help, and so they meet college student Bec (Emmy Rossum), who has impulsively answered their ad despite her complete lack of experience. Bec is chaos in motion–unable to commit to school, her relationships or her plans for the future. But Kate sees something special in Bec and hires her. Gradually, Kate inspires Bec not to throw her life away, while Bec helps Kate–literally and figuratively–to find her voice and finally live her life to the fullest – the way Kate truly wants. With equal measures of tears and laughter, You’re Not You explores how these strangers – brought together by the most challenging circumstances – are able to unlock the best in each other.

Myriad’s Audrey Delaney, SVP Marketing & Acquisitions and Thomas Loftus, SVP, Business Affairs & General Counsel, negotiated international sales rights to the film for Myriad Pictures, with CAA and of Davenport Lyons negotiating on behalf of the filmmakers.

About Myriad Pictures
Based in Santa Monica, California, Myriad Pictures is a leader in the independent financing, production, distribution and worldwide sales of major motion pictures and television programming. Headed by President and CEO Kirk D’Amico, the company holds an impressive and diverse library of filmed programming. Myriad’s current slate includes: LIFE ITSELF, directed by Richard Loncraine with Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman who play a long-married New York City couple who find themselves swept into an emotional and comical real estate bidding war when they put their beloved downtown apartment on the market; THE KEYS TO THE STREET starring Gemma Arterton, Tim Roth, and Max Irons in this erotic love story of two souls bound by blood, set in the upscale neighborhood of London’s Regent’s Park, where horrendous murders are taking place; MISS MEADOWS , with Katie Holmes stars as Miss Meadows, who beneath the perfect manners and petticoats harbors a dark secret ; CAUGHT STEALING, directed by Wayne Kramer and starring Patrick Wilson and Alec Baldwin.; and THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY: HIM and HER starring Golden Globe winner and Academy Award-nominated Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy. The innovative and critically acclaimed film made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be theatrically distributed in the US in 2014 by The Weinstein Company.