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: Celluloid Nightmares Launches Production Slate
• Press Release: Freestyle Releasing Claims U.S. Rights to ‘Funeral Kings’

Press Release: Celluloid Nightmares Launches Production Slate

CELLULOID NIGHTMARES LAUNCHES UPCOMING PRODUCTION AND SALES SLATE

Los Angeles, CA (September 4, 2012) – Celluloid Nightmares, the foreign sales partnership between LA-based XYZ Films and Paris-based Celluloid Dreams, has acquired world sales rights to a slate of film projects that are starting production over the next few months. The company’s projects span a number of genres hailing from multiple territories around the world. XYZ Films and Celluloid Nightmares will be introducing these projects, along with the company’s current slate, during the Toronto International Film Festival next month.

STAGE FRIGHT from Serendipity Point Films (EASTERN PROMISES, BARNEY’S VERSION) marks the feature film debut from director Jerome Sable. Sable is best known as the director of the short film THE LEGEND OF BEAVER DAM which was a recent TIFF Midnight Madness selection as well as a Sundance selection. The musical/horror film has Meat Loaf and Minnie Driver confirmed for the cast and has a scheduled September production start.

THESE FINAL HOURS is a sci-fi thriller from first-time Australian director, Zak Hilditch. The film follows a self-obsessed young man who makes his way to the party-to end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship ultimately leads him on the path to redemption. The film will begin production in Perth, Australia in October with the support of Screen Australia.

CREEPING ZERO is a European co-production from director Billy O’Brien (ISOLATION, a TIFF Midnight Madness title from 2005). The sci-fi film is scheduled to start shooting October 29th in Budapest and will star John Boyega (ATTACK THE BLOCK), Ashley Hinshaw (CHRONICLE), Eddie Marsan (SHERLOCK HOLMES) and Adam Deacon (ANUVAHOOD). CREEPING ZERO is budgeted at 7 million Euro.

KILLERS is a Japanese/Indonesian co-production between Guerrilla Merah Productions and Gareth Evans’ Pt. Merantau Films (THE RAID) out of Indonesia and Nikkatsu (COLD FISH) out of Japan. This serial-killer thriller from directors The Mo Brothers (MACABRE), follows two contrasting serial killers inadvertently discover each other’s existence, as the world around them falls apart, their paths will cross in a violent collision. Starring an international cast, the film is has just commenced production.

Rounding out the slate is ON THE JOB TRAINING, a Filipino action thriller being directed by Erik Matti (TIK TIK: THE ASWANG CHRONICLES) which is scheduled to start production on October 1st. The film is inspired by actual political scandal in the Philippines in which politicians, gangsters and prison official cooperated to use prison inmates as assassins to commit hits outside the prison walls.

XYZ Films is next producing BERANDAL (aka THE RAID 2) which starts production in January and is currently in pre-production in Jakarta, Indonesia. They are also producing THE RAID, an English-language remake which is currently in development at Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems. The company is in post-production on THE RAMBLER, directed by Calvin Reeder and starring Dermot Mulroney; and FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY, directed by Richard Raaphorst. They are also handling world sales on the film RAZE, which is currently in post-production and starring Zoe Bell and Rachel Nichols.

“We’re excited to be working with and supporting these talented filmmakers from around the world,” said XYZ Films’ and Celluloid Nightmares’ partner Nate Bolotin. “With filmmakers from Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, the UK and Ireland honing their unique craft to smart genre and story, the marketplace and eventual audiences should keep their eyes peeled.”

About XYZ Films and Celluloid Nightmares:
XYZ is an LA-based production and sales company founded by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. In addition to handling North American sales at top-tier film festivals, XYZ is also partnered with French international sales outfit, Celluloid Dreams, for international sales. The partnership, launched in May of 2010 as “Celluloid Nightmares,” brings together the pedigree of Celluloid Dreams with the genre savvy of XYZ. XYZ has been a leader in the independent film space since it acquired an ownership stake in leading international film site Twitch (www.twitchfilm.com) and partnered with Twitch founder, Todd Brown, to expand XYZ’s sales initiative. XYZ also produced THE RAID, winner of the Midnight Madness Audience Award at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Press Release: Freestyle Releasing Claims U.S. Rights to ‘Funeral Kings’

Freestyle Releasing Crowns the ‘FUNERAL KINGS’ by Taking All U.S. Rights to Irreverent Coming-of-Age Comedy

Critically Acclaimed Indie picked up out of SXSW

Los Angeles, CA (September 7, 2012) – Freestyle Releasing announced today that they have acquired all U.S. rights to FUNERAL KINGS, the charming, critically acclaimed comedy that was written, produced and directed by brothers Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus. The film was executive produced by Andrew van den Houten (‘’The Woman,” “In the Family”) and stars Dylan Hartigan (“The Black Donnellys”), Alex Maizus, Jordan Puzzo, and Charles Odei (“The Good Wife”). Michaela McManus (“The Vampire Diaries”), Michael Delaney (“The Other Guys”), and Kevin Corrigan (“Superbad”) round out the cast. FUNERAL KINGS debuted as an official selection at this year’s SXSW Film Festival and is slated for a fall release.

It’s always a good day for a funeral at St. Mark’s Middle School in Rhode Island. Andy and Charlie, two altar boys, don’t just get to miss class anytime a parishioner kicks the bucket, they cut out early and play hooky as soon as the service is over. Eventually their irreverent personalities will put them in a situation that is too big for them to handle.

The deal for the U.S. rights was negotiated by Freestyle Releasing’s Co-President Susan Jackson and Andrew van den Houten, President of Modernciné.

“Kevin and Matthew McManus are talented new filmmakers who bring a fresh humor to the adventures of these ne’er-do-well New England Altar boys. We absolutely love the film and can’t wait to bring it to audiences,” said Jackson.

“Funeral Kings was an audience and critics hit at SXSW and Fantasia and we are delighted to secure U.S. distribution with Freestyle for this very funny film,” said Andrew van den Houten.

About Freestyle Releasing
Freestyle Releasing is a full-service, theatrical motion picture distribution company that specializes in representing independent companies, major studios, and mini-major studios for the purpose of exhibiting their films in a first class theatrical release. The founders and principals of Freestyle Releasing, Mark Borde and Susan Jackson are highly regarded and experienced motion picture veterans with a combined total of over a century of respected work in the industry.

About Modernciné
Modernciné is dedicated to making high-quality films by telling stories that are edgy and groundbreaking. Modernciné has been behind the development, financing and production of over a dozen feature length motion pictures. Among them are the cult classic “Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door,” “Offspring,” “The Woman,” “Home Movie,” and the Chiller Network presentation, “Ghoul.” Modernciné has gained a solid reputation as a company that is willing to tackle the most controversial subjects and as a result attracted the talents of cutting edge filmmakers Lucky McKee, the McManus Brothers, Patrick Wang and Gregory M. Wilson. The company’s films have been recognized worldwide by The Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, The Deauville Film Festival, Brussels International Fantastic Film Fest, Sitges, Fantastic Fest, FrightFest, Busan International Film Festival, New York City Horror Film Festival and many others.