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.

• Press Release: Principle Photography on “Kidnap” Begins October 27
• Press Release: “A Life in Dirty Movies” Goes to DVD on November 25
• Press Release: “Cyber-Seniors” Announces Digital, Broadcast and Education Distribution Agreements
• Press Release: Frestyle & Dominion Pictures Obtain Rights for “Mr. Pip”
• Press Release: Keanu Reeves to Star in “Replicas”
• Press Release: Fortissimon Adds “Kampai” to American Film Market Slate
• Press Release: Live Preview Event for “Rosewater” on November 13
• Press Release: Freestyle and Dominion Pictures Pick up VOD Rights to “Believe”
• Press Release: “To Kill a Man” Releases on DVD on December 2
• Press Release: Eric Bana to Star in “Special Correspondents”

Press Release: Principle Photography on “Kidnap” Begins October 27

PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON LUIS PRIETO’S THRILLER KIDNAP TO BEGIN OCTOBER 27

Additional Cast Set To Star Alongside Academy Award® Winner Halle Berry

LOS ANGELES (October 27, 2014) – Lotus Entertainment announced today that Luis Prieto’s heart-stopping thriller KIDNAP started principal photography. The film, based off Knate Gwaltney’s screenplay, will shoot in New Orleans and wrap on November 25. Sage Correa, Lew Temple (Lawless, Unstoppable) and Chris McGinn join the cast alongside Academy Award® winner Halle Berry, a mother who will stop at nothing to rescue her kidnapped son. Lotus is handling international sales, with Relativity Studios distributing in the U.S.

Di Bonaventura Pictures’ Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Erik Howsam, Gold Star Films’ Joey Tufaro and Gregory Chou of Rumble Entertainment are producing; executive producers are Halle Berry and her producing partner Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas through their 606 Films production banner, Lotus Entertainment’s Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, D.J. Gugenheim and Ara Keshishian, alongside Gold Star Films’ Colin Bates and Todd Trosclair, Knate Gwaltney, and Doris Pfardrescher of Well Go USA.

The creative team behind KIDNAP includes Director of Photography Flavio Martinez Labiano (The Gunman, Non-Stop), Stunts Coordinator Steve Ritzi (Prisoners, G.I. Joe, Looper), Costume Designer Ruth Carter (Old Boy, Abduction, Frankie and Alice), and Production Designer Sarah Webster (Pusher).

Lotus Entertainment’s current film slate includes: the recently announced REPLICAS with Keanu Reeves; Tom Tykwer’s A Hologram for the King starring two-time Academy Award® Winner Tom Hanks; Scott Hicks’ FALLEN based on the best-selling YA novel; Henry Hobson’s MAGGIE starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin, which Lionsgate recently acquired North American rights; Craig Zobel’s Z For Zachariah with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine; and SONG ONE starring Anne Hathaway.

Press Release: “A Life in Dirty Movies” Goes to DVD on November 25

SOFT-CORE AUTEUR JOE SARNO DOCUMENTARY A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES AVAILABLE ON DVD NOVEMBER 25

Cult film icon John Waters, film historians recount filmmaker’s impact; DVD includes exclusive bonus features

October 28, 2014 (New York, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES, a documentary that follows soft-core auteur Joe Sarno and his wife Peggy as they attempt to make one final film, will be available to own on DVD and at all digital providers on November 25, 2014.

A love story about legendary sexploitation director Joe Sarno, “The Ingmar Bergman of 42nd Street,” and his loyal wife and collaborator Peggy, A LIFE IN DIRTY MOVIES follows the Sarnos for a year as 88-year-old Joe struggles to get a new film project off the ground – a female-centric softcore film that harkens back to the style of his heyday as a filmmaker in the 1960s. As audiences tag along for the eventful and often hilarious journey between wintery Manhattan and the couple’s summer retreat in Sweden, the film’s intimate perspective reveals a filmmaker on the verge of being rediscovered in his golden years.

Intercut is a look back to the evolution of softcore films seen as racy in their day into unmistakable hardcore porn that all but put Sarno and his artform out of business, including conversations with the likes of filmmaker John Waters, porn star Jamie Gillis and film historian Michael Bowen. The film chronicles Sarno’s significant place in film history as an “erotic auteur,” whose ambitions as a filmmaker often surpassed the needs of the genre he helped define.

Press Release: “Cyber-Seniors” Announces Digital, Broadcast and Education Distribution Agreements

CYBER-SENIORS ANNOUNCES DIGITAL, BROADCAST AND EDUCATION DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

Virgil Films & Entertainment Will Release Acclaimed Documentary on Digital and VOD platforms

Autlook Acquires World Broadcast Rights

Passion River Will Distribute Public Screening and Education DVD Package

Toronto, Canada – October 28, 2014 – The production team behind CYBER-SENIORS today announced new distribution agreements to bring the critically acclaimed documentary directed by Saffron Cassaday to broadcast, digital and institution/education platforms. Virgil Films & Entertainment has acquired North American digital rights, with Autlook acquiring international broadcast rights. Passion River Films will distribute the Public Screening and Education DVD package worldwide.

Virgil Films & Entertainment President and CEO Joseph Amodei, Autlook CEO Peter Jager and Passion River Films Senior Director of Sales and Acquisitions Mathew Levy negotiated their respective deals with Brenda Rusnak negotiating on behalf of CYBER-SENIORS. The film completed successful theatrical runs in the United States via distributor Area 23a and in Canada via Best Part Productions earlier this year.

The directorial debut of Saffron Cassaday, CYBER-SENIORS is a humorous and heartwarming feature documentary adding to the important international conversation about the growing generation gap. Focusing on a group of senior citizens who take their first steps into cyber-space under the tutelage of teenage mentors, the film expertly renders a thought-provoking look at a spirited group of men and women who are enriched by digitally re-connecting with their families and each other. Finding their footing rather quickly, the group moves on to compete for the most YouTube views while swiftly building their online inventory of friends.

“When we started on this journey, we suspected that this subtle, sweet story could have a big loud impact,” commented CYBER-SENIORS producer Brenda Rusnak. “Now that we are seeing the Cyber Senior model working in dozens of communities and have had a strong theatrical run in the U.S. and Canada, we are happy to collaborate with our partners to bring this story to more audiences via traditional and non-traditional distribution,” she concluded.

CYBER-SENIORS director Saffron Cassaday commented, “After working as an actress for many years, I was searching for a compelling subject for my directorial debut. Observing the Cyber Senior program in action, I found the program and its participants were rife with drama, pathos and humor. Editing over 120 hours of footage into a feature length film was challenging, but I am so pleased with how the storyline took shape and with the critical and popular response.”

CYBER-SENIORS will be available on digital and Video On Demand platforms in late 2014 or early 2015.

Press Release: Frestyle & Dominion Pictures Obtain Rights for “Mr. Pip”

Freestyle & Dominion Pictures Pick Up “Mr. Pip” Starring Hugh Laurie for Day & Date

Critically-acclaimed and Award-winning Darling to Hit November 7th, 2014

Los Angeles, CA (October 28, 2014) – Freestyle Releasing, Freestyle Digital Media (FDM) and Dominion Pictures announced today that they have acquired theatrical and all DVD/VOD rights to MR. PIP, a film from Andrew Adamson (CHRONICLES OF NARNIA, SHREK) based on the best-selling novel by Lloyd Jones. The drama brings “House MD” superstar Hugh Laurie to the big screen, alongside up-and-coming sensation Xzannjah Matsi. Executive produced by Tim Coddington, James Dean, Daniel Revers and Timothy White, the film will debut in limited theaters and on all digital platforms on November 7, 2014.

The winner of New Zealand Film & TV Awards for Best Actor (Laurie) and Best Actress (Xzannjah), the film also features Kerry Fox, Eka Darville, Florence Korokoro, Healesville Joel and Tapiwa Soropa. It was produced by Adamson, Robin Scholes, Leslie Urdang and Dean Vanech.

Mr. Watts (Laurie) is the last Englishman remaining in a tropical village in Bougainville during its civil war in the 1990s. He begins to teach the local children by reading them “Great Expectations,” by Charles Dickens, while Matilda (Matsi) is an imaginative young girl, who is transported into the story of the novel, believing that Dickens’ character Pip is her friend. Matilda’s “Pip” world is an extraordinary fusion of Dickens’ Victorian London with the environment and people she knows on the island. This wildly imaginative hybrid place – visually stimulating and utterly compelling – is set alongside the film’s unflinching portrayal of the horrors of war. Matilda’s passion for storytelling brings terror to the village when Pip’s identity is misunderstood by the invading army. Ultimately, her courage and imagination must sustain her if she is to survive.

The film came to Freestyle Digital Media through UTA and was negotiated by Chris Charalambous, Head of Acquisitions & Sales for Freestyle Digital Media with Hamish Berry (producer’s attorney) of Bruns Brennan & Berry PLLC.

“Andrew Adamson paints a beautiful picture of divergent worlds,” said Mark Borde, President of Freestyle Releasing, “from the innocence of young adulthood to the brutal reality of wars, the film’s range is incredible.”

Recent Freestyle titles include the box office hit GOD’S NOT DEAD, TIGER EYES, the first big screen adaptation of a Judy Blume novel starring Willa Holland, and the SXSW festival favorite FUNERAL KINGS from the McManus Brothers and the upcoming THE IDENTICAL starring Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta.

Press Release: Keanu Reeves to Star in “Replicas”

KEANU REEVES TO STAR IN FUTURISTIC THRILLER REPLICAS FOR LOTUS ENTERTAINMENT AND DI BONAVENTURA PICTURES

Tanya Wexler to Direct with Lotus Handling International Sales Starting at the American Film Market

LOS ANGELES (October 28, 2014) – Lotus Entertainment and di Bonaventura Pictures announced today Keanu Reeves will star in REPLICAS from director Tanya Wexler, the follow-up to her successful hit (HYSTERIA). From a screenplay by Chad St. John, REPLICAS is produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura (GI JOE, TRANSFORMERS Franchises), Stephen Hamel, Reeves, and Fundamental Films. Company Films’ partners Hamel and Reeves developed the script based on Hamel’s treatment. Lotus will introduce the sci-fi thriller to foreign buyers starting at the upcoming AFM. CAA is handling domestic rights.

After a car accident kills his loving family, a daring neuroscientist will stop at nothing to bring them back, even if it means pitting himself against a government-controlled laboratory, a police task force, and the physical laws of science themselves. Production is slated for spring 2015.

No stranger to sci-fi action films, Reeves is possibly best known for his role as “Neo” in the wildly popular THE MATRIX TRILOGY. Reeves highly anticipated action film JOHN WICK opened this month.

Lotus Entertainment’s Bill Johnson and Jim Seibel said, “We loved the notion of taking the ‘how far will a man go to save his family’ story hook and then adding a high concept sci-fi twist. Keanu has obviously had a lot of success in the sci-fi genre and we are excited to have him anchoring a story which we believe will have great appeal to audiences across the globe.”

Di Bonaventura commented, “From my experience working with Keanu on THE MATRIX franchise through our collaboration on CONSTANTINE, I have always been impressed by Keanu’s ability to bring a genuine level of humanity to the sci-fi genre through his performance. I am looking forward to collaborating with Keanu once again on this unique take on what lengths a person will go to alter the past, and the implications of those actions.”

Director Wexler said, “I jumped at the opportunity to work with Keanu, Stephen, and Lorenzo. I love near-future sci-fi and have always been drawn to stories about scientists on the cutting edge of technology whether that’s three years from now or 130 years ago. These are the mavericks that change our lives. This is a story about one who goes to extremes with his own family and is forced to confront that question–how far is too far?”

Lotus Entertainment’s current film slate includes: Luis Prieto’s KIDNAP starring Halle Berry; Tom Tykwer’s A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING starring two-time Academy Award® Winner Tom Hanks; Scott Hicks’ FALLEN based on the best-selling YA novel; Henry Hobson’s MAGGIE starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Abigail Breslin, acquired by Lionsgate for North America; and Craig Zobel’s Z FOR ZACHARIAH with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Chris Pine.

Reeves is represented by CAA.

Press Release: Fortissimon Adds “Kampai” to American Film Market Slate

FORTISSIMO FILMS BOOSTS AFM SLATE WITH THE ACQUISITION OF MIRAI KONISHI’S DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, “KAMPAI! FOR THE LOVE OF SAKE”. PRE-SALES WILL COMMENCE AT THE AFM.

AMSTERDAM/HONG KONG, OCTOBER 29, 2014: Fortissimo Films announced today its acquisition of worldwide rights outside Japan for Director Mirai Konishi’s feature documentary, “KAMPAI! FOR THE LOVE OF SAKE”. Currently in production, the English and Japanese language film explores the complex, secretive and fascinating world of Sake; the most quintessential Japanese liquor as seen through the eyes of three unique outsiders who have devoted themselves to the pursuit of this distinctive rice wine.

Produced by Konishi’s L.A. based Wagamama Media LLC, along with LA based producer, Chiaki Yanagimoto (SAMURAI AVENGER, GUN WOMAN), KAMPAI! is aiming for completion and a Festival launch by mid to late 2015. The film is Executive Produced by Nao Komai and SYNCA Creations CEO, Soojun Bae and will be presented In Association with Fortissimo Films, with Fortissimo’s Chairman Michael J. Werner, and its Managing Director Nelleke Driessen receiving Executive Producer credits as well. Fortissimo has enjoyed commercial and Festival success with a number of iconic, food-related documentaries including SUPER SIZE ME, FOOD INC., JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI, and FOODIES. The acquisition deal was finalized by Fortissimo’s Werner and Producer Chiaki Yanagimoto, while Fortissimo and SYNCA Creations entered into the deal.

To enter this unknown world, the director will explore the lives and journeys of three distinctive Sake aficionados and experts, through which we come to understand the rich, complex, and spectacular world of this special drink which has a long and deep history in Japanese culture. Featured will be Phillip Harper, a British native and long-time resident of Japan who is the first non-Japanese Toji sake brewer; American John Gauntner considered to be one of the world’s leading Sake journalists; and Kousuke Kuji, the young President of a century-old Japanese Sake brewery who is responsible for managing the overseas expansion of the brewery’s precious output.

Upon confirming the deal, Werner stated, “We are very excited about Mirai’s take on the universe of Sake, which is little known or understood outside a small circle of experts. Yet worldwide when we are at a Japanese restaurant, we are confronted with the dual dilemmas of choosing – house Sake or bottled Sake from a long list with various sweetness levels and prices; and then hot or cold? With KAMPAI! FOR THE LOVE OF SAKE we believe that we have another food related feature film with global commercial and festival award potential.”

Pre-sales for the film will commence at the AFM where exclusive early footage will be available to screen.

Press Release: Live Preview Event for “Rosewater” on November 13

‘Rosewater’ Live Preview Event with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to Screen in Select U.S. Cinemas Exclusively on November 13

Fathom Events and Open Road Films to Give Audiences Sneak Peek at Jon Stewart’s Directorial Debut in ‘Rosewater’ Followed by Live Q&A on the Eve Before Its National Release

DENVER – October 29, 2014 – Fathom Events and Open Road Films are partnering to present the exclusive “Rosewater: Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert LIVE” event, including the feature film Rosewater followed by a Live Q&A with Jon Stewart, the film’s screen writer, director and producer, interviewed by Stephen Colbert, host and executive producer of the Emmy and Peabody Award Winning series “The Colbert Report,” broadcast from New York City. Fans can join the conversation by Tweeting questions now via Twitter using the hashtag #RosewaterLive. This special event will be showcased in select cinemas nationwide for only one night on November 13 live at 7:30 p.m. ET and tape delayed to 7:30 p.m. local time in all other time zones. Rosewater is based on The New York Times best-selling memoir “Then They Came for Me: A Family’s Story of Love, Captivity, and Survival,” written by the BBC journalist Maziar Bahari, which is now available in paperback and titled after the upcoming movie. Following the exclusive Fathom Events preview on November 13, Rosewater will be in theaters nationwide on November 14.

Tickets for “Rosewater: Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert LIVE” are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. The event will be presented in more than 300 select movie theaters nationwide through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations and prices, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

A true story, Rosewater marks the screenwriting and directorial debut of “The Daily Show” host and executive producer Jon Stewart, and stars Gael García Bernal, leading an international cast. Rosewater is produced by Scott Rudin, Stewart and Gigi Pritzker, with Lila Yacoub, Eli Bush and Chris McShane serving as executive producers.

Rosewater has a direct connection to Stewart, who since taking over as host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in 1999, has turned the nightly half-hour satirical look at newsmakers and news-coverers into not only a perennial Emmy-winning juggernaut, but also an important touchstone on the zeitgeist. Stewart and “The Daily Show” covered Bahari’s saga nightly and the journalist appeared on the show to talk about his ordeal once he was released from prison.

Rosewater follows the Tehran-born Bahari, a 42-year-old broadcast journalist with Canadian citizenship living in London. In June 2009, Bahari returned to Iran to interview Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who was the prime challenger to controversial incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As Moussavi’s supporters rose up to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory declaration hours before the polls closed on election day, Bahari endured great personal risk by submitting camera footage of the unfolding street riots to the BBC. Bahari was soon arrested by Revolutionary Guard police, led by a man identifying himself only as “Rosewater,” who proceeded to torture and interrogate the journalist over the next 118 days. In October 2009, with Bahari’s wife leading an international campaign from London to have her husband freed, and Western media outlets including “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” continuing to keep the story alive, Iranian authorities released Bahari on $300,000 bail and the promise he would act as a spy for the government.

“Rosewater has been celebrated by early festival audiences as well as critics,” said Tom Ortenberg, CEO of Open Road Films. “Moviegoers have expressed incredible enthusiasm about the upcoming release of Jon Stewart’s directorial debut and we are thrilled to be able to bring this special event with two icons to theaters across the country.”

“Rosewater is an important story that must be told to the world,” said Fathom Events CEO John Rubey. “The chance to see it first and hear the thought-provoking insight directly from the film’s creator should not be missed.”

Press Release: Freestyle and Dominion Pictures Pick up VOD Rights to “Believe”

FREESTYLE and Dominion Pictures Land VOD Rights to Soccer Family-Friendly Flick “Believe,” Out November 11th

Brian Cox, Natascha McElhone Star in Manchester United Masterpiece

Los Angeles, CA (October 30, 2014) – Freestyle Digital Media (FDM) and Dominion Pictures announced today that they have acquired the VOD rights to BELIEVE, a film from David Scheinmann based around the world-famous Manchester United FC. The family flick stars Brian Cox (BOURNE IDENTITY) and Natascha McElhone (“Californication”). A winner of multiple awards, including Best Children’s Film at the 2013 Zurich Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Buster Int’l Children’s Film Festival, the film was produced by Manuela Noble, Justin Peyton and Ben Timlett and will be available on VOD on November 11, 2014.

Set in the 1980s, some 10 years after his retirement as one of Manchester United’s most famed coaches, Sir Matt Busby (Cox) is restless in the twilight of his life. Georgie is an 11-year-old working class kid whose widowed mother (McElhone) is doing her best to keep him out of trouble. Georgie tries to steal Sir Matt’s wallet only to be tracked down. This fun and fictional tale puts the real-life legendary soccer coach (of England’s Manchester United team) coming out of retirement when he discovers that far from being just another young thief, Georgie is an extraordinarily gifted soccer player and captain of a team of unruly talents. Intrigued, Matt decides to try to transform a young group of ruffians into a dream team to compete for the upcoming Manchester Junior “Football” (Soccer) League Cup.

The deal was negotiated by Chris Charalambous, Head of Acquisitions & Sales for Freestyle Digital Media with Manuela Noble (Producer) and Billy Hurman of Manifest Film Sales on behalf of the film.

“We are truly elated to be distributing this wonderful family film,” said Mark Borde, Co-President of Freestyle Digital Media, “It is one we very much wanted in the FDM family.”

Recent Freestyle titles include the box office hit GOD’S NOT DEAD, TIGER EYES, the first big screen adaptation of a Judy Blume novel starring Willa Holland, and the SXSW festival favorite FUNERAL KINGS from the McManus Brothers and the upcoming THE IDENTICAL starring Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta.

Press Release: “To Kill a Man” Releases on DVD on December 2

SUNDANCE WORLD CINEMA GRAND JURY WINNER TO KILL A MAN AVAILABLE ON DVD DECEMBER 2

Chilean drama by Alejandro Fernández Almendra is country’s Bset Foreign Language Film submission

October 30, 2014 (New York, NY) – Film Movement, the distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films, announces today that TO KILL A MAN, the tense, taut drama about a man forced to take justice into his own hands in order to protect his family, will be available to own on DVD and at all digital providers on December 2, 2014.

TO KILL A MAN sees hardworking family man Jorge just barely making ends meet. When he gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge’s son decides to confront the thug, only to get himself shot in the process. Sentenced to a scant two years in prison for the offense, Kalule – released and now intent on revenge – goes on the warpath, terroizing Jorge’s family. With his wife, son and daughter at the mercy of a criminal, Jorge has no choice but to take justice into his own hands and live ith the emotinoal and psychological consequences. The film won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival in January and was recently named Chile’s entry into the Best Foreign Language Film Oscars® category.

Speaking in an interview with Filmmaker Magazine (here) on choices in TO KILL A MAN, writer/director Alejandro Fernandez Almendras says of his film, “If the main character is ‘forced’ to commit a crime, we seldom question the real implications of that act. In that sense, I decided to make a different use of the audience’s attention for the second half of the film.” This is Fernández Almendras’ third feature, and the first to gain distribution in the U.S.

Press Release: Eric Bana to Star in “Special Correspondents”

ERIC BANA TO STAR IN “SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS” BRON STUDIOS AND UNANIMOUS ENTERTAINMENT TO CO-PRODUCE

Ricky Gervais Writes and Directs; Protagonist to introduce the project to buyers at American Film Market

London/Los Angeles (October 31, 2014) – Eric Bana will star alongside Ricky Gervais in satirical comedy drama, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

Bana will play a struggling New York based radio journalist whose arrogance and decadent lifestyle has hindered his career. With his job on the line he fakes front line war reports from the comfort of his hideout above a Spanish restaurant in the heart of Manhattan.

The movie (written and directed by Ricky Gervais) is scheduled to commence principal photography in Vancouver and NYC in the Spring of 2015.

The film is a co-production between Bron Studios and Unanimous Entertainment in association with Creative Wealth Media Finance. Unanimous’ Chris Coen, Bron’s Aaron L. Gilbert, and Manuel Munz will produce. Creative Wealth’s Jason Cloth and Larry Sanisky are executive producers.

WME Global will be selling the domestic rights, with Protagonist Pictures selling international.

Bana is currently shooting THE FINEST HOURS and will next begin filming THE SECRET SCRIPTURE. He recently appeared in the hits DELIVER US FROM EVIL and LONE SURVIVOR. Gervais’ movie credits include GHOST TOWN, THE NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM TRILOGY and MUPPETS MOST WANTED.

Bana is represented by WME. Gervais is represented by WME and United Agents.

Unanimous Entertainment is in production on Brady Corbett’s directorial debut, THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER, and is developing projects with James Marsh, Lynne Ramsay and Ronan Bennett.

Bron Studios, co-founded by Aaron L. Gilbert and Brenda Gilbert in 2010, is a British Columbia-based producer of original live-action and animated motion pictures and series television. The company has produced over a dozen films since its founding; working with new voices and established talents both in front of and behind the camera including; Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, William H. Macy, Ellen Page, Tim Robbins, Olivia Wilde, Billy Crudup, Zooey Deschanel, Anton Yelchin, Helen Hunt, Johnny Galecki, Anjelica Huston, Luke Wilson, Rebecca Hall and many others.

Protagonist Pictures is an international production, finance and sales company committed to strong relationships with film-makers, financiers and distributors. Launched in London in 2008 by shareholders including Film4, Vertigo Films and Ingenious Media, the company quickly created a strong brand as a home for bold stories and exciting new directing voices. Its current slate includes James Kent’s Testament Of Youth with Alicia Vikander, produced by Heyday Films, which premiered at the London Film Festival; Yorgos Lanthimos’s The Lobster, featuring Colin Farrell, Rachael Weisz, Ben Whishaw, John C Reilly and Lea Seydoux, which is in post-production and then next films from Andrea Arnold, Ben Wheatley, Whit Stillman and Rebecca Miller.