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September 10, 2008
[PR] IFC puts on the Che t-shirt
IFC FILMS ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO
STEVEN SODERBERGH’S CHE
Toronto, Ontario – September 10, 2008 – IFC Films has acquired all North American rights to Steven Soderbergh’s epic “Che” starring Benicio Del Toro, produced by Laura Bickford and Benicio Del Toro and written by Peter Buchman. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival where Benicio Del Toro won the Best Actor Prize. It is currently screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be screening next at the New York Film Festival.
“Che” will be released for one week awards qualifying run in New York and Los Angeles in December. The company will then re-open the film in January through IFC In Theaters, its day-and-date distribution platform which makes independent films available to a national audience in theaters and on-demand, simultaneously. It will also be included in the company’s exclusive video rental deal with Blockbuster Video.
Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Films commented, “Steven's been involved with IFC as a member of the advisory board of both the IFC Network and the IFC Center since we formed them. We also financed “Gray’s Anatomy, ” and we have always considered him one of the most visionary American directors at work. "Che" is nothing less than the film event of the year. By giving us the rise and fall of one of the great icons of history, Steven Soderbergh and Benicio Del Toro, who gives an incredible soulful performance, have humanized him and given audiences around the world something that will be discussed for years to come. We are uniquely positioned through our day-and-date program and our Blockbuster deal to get this film to the widest possible audience, and we are thrilled.”
Keith Leopard, Director of Content for Blockbuster, said, “We are extremely excited to partner with IFC Films and present this stunning and thought provoking film to our customers.”
The deal was negotiated by IFC President Jonathan Sehring, VP of Acquisitions and Production Arianna Bocco and Senior Counsel Betsy Rodgers with Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval, Agnes Mentre, Laurent Baudens and Pierre Selinger.
“This project is so important to us and we wanted to partner with someone sharing our same idea of distribution,” said Maraval. “This is a unique distribution challenge and we needed someone with creative passion and marketing skill to work with. IFC Films came with the same ambition and energy that we had during the whole process of that exceptional adventure. We are pleased and relieved to give them our dearest baby to take care of.”
Producer Laura Bickford said, “IFC Films is a great place for “Che” and we are thrilled at their enthusiasm for the film and the unique model they offer us.”
“Che” is comprised of two stand alone parts that are the result of 7 years of intense research: “The Argentine” and “Guerrilla.” In “The Argentine,” Ernesto Che Guevara, an Argentine doctor, is one of 80 rebels under Fidel Castro on a mission to overthrow the corrupt government of Fulgencio Batista. Che is quickly embraced by his comrades and the Cuban people through his grasp of guerilla warfare and as a fighter. The film tracks his rise in the Cuban revolution from doctor to commander to revolutionary hero.
In “Guerrilla”, Che is at the height of his powers after the Cuban Revolution and has reemerged in Bolivia. Che has organized a group of Cubans and Bolivians to start the great Latin American revolution which will ultimately bring him to his death. Through this story, we come to understand how Che remains a symbol of idealism and heroism that lives in the hearts of people around the world.
IFC Films has been a major presence at the Toronto Film Festival with 7 films screening at the festival including Arnaud Desplechin's A CHRISTMAS TALE, Ole Christian Madsen's “Flame and Citron”, Matteo Garrone's “Gomorrah,” Kim Jee-Woon's “The Good, The Bad, The Weird”, Steve McQueen's “Hunger”, Barry Jenkins' “Medicine for Melancholy” and Olivier Assayas' “Summer Hours”. The company just announced the acquisition of Jan Troell’s “Everlasting Moments” which was one of the standout hits of the Telluride Film Festival and is currently also screening in Toronto.
About IFC Entertainment
A leader in the independent film industry, IFC Entertainment consists of multiple brands that are devoted to bringing the best of specialty films to the largest possible audience: IFC Films, IFC Productions, and the IFC Center. Through an innovative day-and-date distribution model, IFC Entertainment makes films available to a national audience through theatrical release by its renowned film division, while IFC In Theaters, an on demand service, simultaneously releases these titles to cable and satellite viewers. IFC Festival Direct features a wide selection of titles acquired from major international film festivals and offers them exclusively through on-demand and digital platforms. IFC Productions is a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects. IFC Center is a three screen, state[-of-the-art cinema with
luxurious seating and HD digital and 35mm projection that s]hows art-house films in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village. IFC Entertainment's companies are subsidiaries of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFCCenter, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York'sGreenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media's NYC studios and post-production facilities.
Posted by Ray Pride at September 10, 2008 09:12 AM
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