Located betwixt Oklahoma’s Cherokee Nation and kitsch Missouri family fun destination Branson, Northwest Arkansas’s Bentonville is one of the great cultural destinations of the SEC region. In addition to its thriving theaters, museums and local artist community, the city has announced itself as a burgeoning cinema hub, thanks to the emergence of the Bentonville Film Festival.
Founded in 2015 by activist and Oscar winner Geena Davis, in partnership with producer and businessman Trevor Drinkwater, the annual June festival is the centerpiece event for the year-round BFFoundation, providing a safe space and exhibition venue for emerging creators and visual storytellers hailing from underrepresented backgrounds—sounds familiar!
But don’t worry, we’re not being paid off by Big Arkanite to say nice things. Next week, Film Independent kicks off Festival Visions, a Film Independent Presents summer spotlight series featuring—online and for free—some of the best indie films programmed...
Founded in 2015 by activist and Oscar winner Geena Davis, in partnership with producer and businessman Trevor Drinkwater, the annual June festival is the centerpiece event for the year-round BFFoundation, providing a safe space and exhibition venue for emerging creators and visual storytellers hailing from underrepresented backgrounds—sounds familiar!
But don’t worry, we’re not being paid off by Big Arkanite to say nice things. Next week, Film Independent kicks off Festival Visions, a Film Independent Presents summer spotlight series featuring—online and for free—some of the best indie films programmed...
- 5/18/2023
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
The People’s Joker opens with a disclaimer: “This film is a parody and is at the present time completely unauthorized by DC Comics, Warner Brothers, or anyone claiming ownership of the trademarks therein…”
The fact that the film, which was directed, cut and performed by Vera Drew from a script by Drew and Bri LeRose, requires the statement up front isn’t surprising. This transgender Joker origin story is steeped in Batman and DC references, but it is unabashedly ruthless in who and what it mocks, resolutely taking aim at certain canonical characters and plotlines while also reverently paying homage to many iterations of Batsy.
Credit creator Drew, who repurposes her own trans experience to tell the coming of age/coming out story of young Joker (Griffin Kramer). Growing up in Smallville with her mother (Lynn Downey) and absent, never seen father, Joker feels out of place in her male body.
The fact that the film, which was directed, cut and performed by Vera Drew from a script by Drew and Bri LeRose, requires the statement up front isn’t surprising. This transgender Joker origin story is steeped in Batman and DC references, but it is unabashedly ruthless in who and what it mocks, resolutely taking aim at certain canonical characters and plotlines while also reverently paying homage to many iterations of Batsy.
Credit creator Drew, who repurposes her own trans experience to tell the coming of age/coming out story of young Joker (Griffin Kramer). Growing up in Smallville with her mother (Lynn Downey) and absent, never seen father, Joker feels out of place in her male body.
- 9/14/2022
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival, which champions women and diverse voices in media, on Saturday announced its 2018 award winners.
The ceremony was hosted by The Real’s Loni Love, and presenters included festival co-founders Davis and Trevor Drinkwater and actress Stephanie Beatriz, with performances by Martina McBride and the Latin X Theater Project.
Actor and filmmaker Natalie Morales was presented with the fest's first See It, Be It Award, recognizing her rising and influential voice in the landscape of diversity and inclusion in media.
Jenna Laurenzo's Lez Bomb took the best narrative film jury award, best documentary honors went to Emanuel from director...
The ceremony was hosted by The Real’s Loni Love, and presenters included festival co-founders Davis and Trevor Drinkwater and actress Stephanie Beatriz, with performances by Martina McBride and the Latin X Theater Project.
Actor and filmmaker Natalie Morales was presented with the fest's first See It, Be It Award, recognizing her rising and influential voice in the landscape of diversity and inclusion in media.
Jenna Laurenzo's Lez Bomb took the best narrative film jury award, best documentary honors went to Emanuel from director...
- 5/6/2018
- by Lauren Huff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival, which champions women and diverse voices in media, on Saturday announced its 2018 award winners.
The ceremony was hosted by <em>The Real</em>’s Loni Love, and presenters included festival co-founders Davis and Trevor Drinkwater and actress Stephanie Beatriz, with performances by Martina McBride and the Latin X Theater Project.
Actor and filmmaker Natalie Morales was presented with the fest's first See It, Be It Award, recognizing her rising and influential voice in the landscape of diversity and inclusion in media.
Jenna Laurenzo's <em>Lez Bomb</em> took the best narrative film jury award, best documentary ...
The ceremony was hosted by <em>The Real</em>’s Loni Love, and presenters included festival co-founders Davis and Trevor Drinkwater and actress Stephanie Beatriz, with performances by Martina McBride and the Latin X Theater Project.
Actor and filmmaker Natalie Morales was presented with the fest's first See It, Be It Award, recognizing her rising and influential voice in the landscape of diversity and inclusion in media.
Jenna Laurenzo's <em>Lez Bomb</em> took the best narrative film jury award, best documentary ...
The fourth annual Bentonville Film Festival, running May 1-6, will continue its overarching quest to increase gender equality and cultural diversity in the entertainment biz, both in front of and behind the camera.
The Arkansas-based event, co-founded by Geena Davis and Inclusion Companies CEO Trevor Drinkwater and sponsored by such companies as Coca-Cola, Walmart and AMC, has been committed to the ideals of pluralism in Hollywood well before the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements emerged on the scene. Davis herself has been at the forefront of instituting positive systemic change in media content since 2004 when she founded the nonprofit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the first research-based organization of its kind to, per Davis, “engage, educate and influence content creators, marketers and audiences about the importance of eliminating unconscious bias, highlighting gender balance, challenging stereotypes and creating role models and scripting a wide variety of strong female characters in entertainment and media.
The Arkansas-based event, co-founded by Geena Davis and Inclusion Companies CEO Trevor Drinkwater and sponsored by such companies as Coca-Cola, Walmart and AMC, has been committed to the ideals of pluralism in Hollywood well before the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements emerged on the scene. Davis herself has been at the forefront of instituting positive systemic change in media content since 2004 when she founded the nonprofit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, the first research-based organization of its kind to, per Davis, “engage, educate and influence content creators, marketers and audiences about the importance of eliminating unconscious bias, highlighting gender balance, challenging stereotypes and creating role models and scripting a wide variety of strong female characters in entertainment and media.
- 4/27/2018
- by Malina Saval
- Variety Film + TV
As Geena Davis’ Bentonville Film Festival readies for its third edition, the fledgling Arkansas event is already pivoting to embrace other entertainment mediums beyond just films, all the better to serve their mission of bolstering diversity in the industry.
“Our tagline has evolved to be ‘championing women and diverse voices in media,’ because the lack of female characters and diverse characters exists in pretty much any form of the media,” said Davis, who co-founded the festival with Trevor Drinkwater, in an interview. During its first two years, Bentonville aimed to champion those voices specifically in film, but 2017 will turn the focus of the festival on other entertainment options, including an episodic section and a shorts competition
Read More: The Bentonville Film Festival is Brought to You By Women, Diversity and Corporate Synergy
“One thing that has been apparent for a long time is how television is doing much better than...
“Our tagline has evolved to be ‘championing women and diverse voices in media,’ because the lack of female characters and diverse characters exists in pretty much any form of the media,” said Davis, who co-founded the festival with Trevor Drinkwater, in an interview. During its first two years, Bentonville aimed to champion those voices specifically in film, but 2017 will turn the focus of the festival on other entertainment options, including an episodic section and a shorts competition
Read More: The Bentonville Film Festival is Brought to You By Women, Diversity and Corporate Synergy
“One thing that has been apparent for a long time is how television is doing much better than...
- 4/28/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Stephen K. Bannon’s ascension from Breitbart News executive to President-elect Donald Trump’s chief White House strategist and senior counselor shocked the world, in no small part because the alt-right figure has no background in government management. However, it’s not the first time Bannon has attempted to lead an industry outside of his professional experience. Bannon’s new role may be an ideal platform for propagandistic ambitions, but his career in independent film — first in distribution, then production — casts doubt on how much he believes in any of it.
Ten years ago, Bannon oversaw the distribution of independent films released by Wellspring Media, a company that supported a wide range of international cinema as well as gay-themed and other “transgressive” titles. Movies acquired and released under his tenure include the experimental Lgbt documentary “Tarnation” and “Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry,” a pro-Kerry documentary that opened during the 2004 election.
Ten years ago, Bannon oversaw the distribution of independent films released by Wellspring Media, a company that supported a wide range of international cinema as well as gay-themed and other “transgressive” titles. Movies acquired and released under his tenure include the experimental Lgbt documentary “Tarnation” and “Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry,” a pro-Kerry documentary that opened during the 2004 election.
- 11/21/2016
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
Full Lineup Announcements
– The sixth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (Nvff) has announced its complete line-up, Opening Night and Red Carpet screenings, special events and additional honorees for its Celebrity Tributes. Nvff returns in full force with a five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films in 13 unique screening venues in the Wine Country towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga, running November 9 – 13.
The Festival will play host to a strong selection of films, including many of this year’s award contenders, like The Weinstein Company’s “Lion,” which will be this year’s Opening Night film, and Open Road Films’ “Bleed for This.” As the perfect bookend to the festival, the independent documentary “Pisco Punch: A Cocktail Comeback Story” will serve as the Closing Night film.
Full Lineup Announcements
– The sixth annual Napa Valley Film Festival (Nvff) has announced its complete line-up, Opening Night and Red Carpet screenings, special events and additional honorees for its Celebrity Tributes. Nvff returns in full force with a five-day festival showcasing the year’s best new independent films in 13 unique screening venues in the Wine Country towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga, running November 9 – 13.
The Festival will play host to a strong selection of films, including many of this year’s award contenders, like The Weinstein Company’s “Lion,” which will be this year’s Opening Night film, and Open Road Films’ “Bleed for This.” As the perfect bookend to the festival, the independent documentary “Pisco Punch: A Cocktail Comeback Story” will serve as the Closing Night film.
- 9/29/2016
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Geena Davis‘ Bentonville Film Festival will run from May 2 to May 7 in 2017, organizers announced on Wednesday. Co-founded by the Oscar-winning actress and Arc Entertainment Cep Trevor Drinkwater, the Arkansas film festival champions women and diverse voices in the media. Bff boasts that it is the “only film competition in the world to guarantee theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners in the following categories: Best Family Film, Audience Award and Best Narrative Selected by Jury.” “We are so very proud of the progress we’ve made and the response we are getting in support of the.
- 9/28/2016
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
The Latin American premiere of Garth Davis’ Oscar season hopeful Lion will screen at the fifth Los Cabos International Film Festival, set to run in Mexico from November 9-13.
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s acclaimed Brazilian film Aquarius gets its Mexican premiere, as does Babak Anvari’s UK foreign language Oscar submission Under The Shadow.
Danis Tanovic’s Serbian Oscar contender Death In Sarajevo receives its Latin American premiere. Michael Dudok’s The Red Turtle also screens.
Vitagraph Films will open the aforementioned Aquarius in the Us on October 14 at the Arclight Cinemas Hollywood. Nationwide rollout will follow the October 14th debut. Sonia Braga stars as a feisty retired music critic caught up in a tense property redevelopment scheme. The Us premiere will take place at the New York Film Festival.The George Lucas Family Foundation has established the Haskell Wexler Endowed Chair in Documentary at the USC School Of Cinematic Arts. The first holder...
Kleber Mendonça Filho’s acclaimed Brazilian film Aquarius gets its Mexican premiere, as does Babak Anvari’s UK foreign language Oscar submission Under The Shadow.
Danis Tanovic’s Serbian Oscar contender Death In Sarajevo receives its Latin American premiere. Michael Dudok’s The Red Turtle also screens.
Vitagraph Films will open the aforementioned Aquarius in the Us on October 14 at the Arclight Cinemas Hollywood. Nationwide rollout will follow the October 14th debut. Sonia Braga stars as a feisty retired music critic caught up in a tense property redevelopment scheme. The Us premiere will take place at the New York Film Festival.The George Lucas Family Foundation has established the Haskell Wexler Endowed Chair in Documentary at the USC School Of Cinematic Arts. The first holder...
- 9/28/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
(Pictured l to r: Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Maggie Kiley, Elisa Paloschi, Meera Menon, Malina Saval) Earlier this month, the Geena Davis– and Trevor Drinkwater–founded Bentonville Film Festival, based out of Arkansas, kicked off its second year of pushing inclusive films with female-driven voices into the mainstream. Using research from the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which revealed that “across 1,565 content creators, only 7 percent of directors, 13 percent of writers, and 20 percent of producers are female,” a 4.8-to-one male-to-female ratio behind the scenes, 34 films were selected out of 500 for the slate. To shift that ratio in mainstream films, Bff is the only festival that guarantees the winners of the narrative, family film, and audience award categories distribution through corporate sponsors that include AMC and Walmart. “Having been in movies that really resonated with women, I had a bit of a spidey-sense of how we were portrayed,” Davis said. “The...
- 5/16/2016
- backstage.com
(Pictured: Dana Harris, Maril Davis, Vic Mahoney, Heather Zuhlke, Teyonah Parris, and Tichina Arnold)When the federal government announces an investigation looking into Hollywood’s discrimination against women both in front of and behind the camera, it’s clear efforts to champion female and diverse voices in the film industry are growing increasingly important. The 2nd Annual Bentonville Film Festival, co-founded by Geena Davis and Arc Entertainment Founder Trevor Drinkwater, presented a handful of opportunities for influential women on both sides of the camera to voice their opinions on the state of the industry to a willing audience. In addition to the screenings of 34 films made about, for, and by women—12 of which were world premieres—panel discussions and Q&As got to the core of the issues surrounding women in film. Ladies Who Launch (TV Shows) featured actors Teyonah Parris (“Chi-Raq”), whose latest film “Five Nights in Maine” screened at the festival,...
- 5/13/2016
- backstage.com
Geena Davis and Arc Entertainment have announced the second annual Bentonville Film Festival.
The festival will run from May 3-8 in Bentonville, Arkansas. Founding sponsor Walmart and presenting sponsor Coca-Cola will both return.
“Bff is effecting real change in how women and diverse filmmakers can get their stories in front of audiences, with the support of the world’s largest entertainment and media companies, brands and retailers,” said Davis.
The festival says it runs the only film competition in the world to guarantee theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.
Following the launch this year, Davis and her team plan to expand to include all forms of media. The 2016 programme will include shorts, digital content and TV programming as well as new events to salute Bentonville’s cultural and natural surroundings.
This year’s inaugural festival drew nearly 50 filmmakers and 40 celebrities from around the country and achieved attendance of approximately 37,000.
The Bentonville Film Foundation...
The festival will run from May 3-8 in Bentonville, Arkansas. Founding sponsor Walmart and presenting sponsor Coca-Cola will both return.
“Bff is effecting real change in how women and diverse filmmakers can get their stories in front of audiences, with the support of the world’s largest entertainment and media companies, brands and retailers,” said Davis.
The festival says it runs the only film competition in the world to guarantee theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.
Following the launch this year, Davis and her team plan to expand to include all forms of media. The 2016 programme will include shorts, digital content and TV programming as well as new events to salute Bentonville’s cultural and natural surroundings.
This year’s inaugural festival drew nearly 50 filmmakers and 40 celebrities from around the country and achieved attendance of approximately 37,000.
The Bentonville Film Foundation...
- 8/28/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The distributor announced on Monday corporate acquisitions and a strategic alliance that builds its annual content flow to more than 1,300 films and 3,000 TV episodes.
Alchemy CEO Bill Lee (pictured) and his team have acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect, the physical distribution arm of family-owned Anderson Media Corporation.
The distributor has also bought digital films and television distributor Anderson Digital, which prior to this acquisition was co-owned by Charles Anderson and partners Freyr Thor and Steve Lyons.
Anderson will become an investor in Alchemy while Thor will serve as Alchemy’s svp of product management.
A strategic alliance with Arc Entertainment, a leading supplier of faith and family content to Walmart and other national retailers, will see Alchemy distribute Arc’s media assets.
It will also provide financial support for the growth of the Bentonville Film Festival, the brainchild of Geena Davis, Arc president Trevor Drinkwater that launched in early May in Arkansas.
The arrangement...
Alchemy CEO Bill Lee (pictured) and his team have acquired the film distribution assets of ANconnect, the physical distribution arm of family-owned Anderson Media Corporation.
The distributor has also bought digital films and television distributor Anderson Digital, which prior to this acquisition was co-owned by Charles Anderson and partners Freyr Thor and Steve Lyons.
Anderson will become an investor in Alchemy while Thor will serve as Alchemy’s svp of product management.
A strategic alliance with Arc Entertainment, a leading supplier of faith and family content to Walmart and other national retailers, will see Alchemy distribute Arc’s media assets.
It will also provide financial support for the growth of the Bentonville Film Festival, the brainchild of Geena Davis, Arc president Trevor Drinkwater that launched in early May in Arkansas.
The arrangement...
- 7/13/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Geena Davis and Arc Entertainment’s inaugural event is about to kick off in Arkansas with a focus on impacting the quantity and quality of females and minorities in entertainment.
The festival will screen 75 films and guarantees distribution to a handful of winners. The roster of positive, entertaining cinema opens with the world premiere of War Room and closes with Universal’s Pitch Perfect 2. Guests will include Robert De Niro, Catherine Hardwicke and Rosie O’Donnell.
Davis and Arc president Trevor Drinkwater talk about how the event came about, its ties to the non-profit, the Geena Davis Institute On Gender In Media, and its aims going forward. The Bentonville Film Festival runs from May 5-9.
How did this all start?
Geena Davis: Trevor and I started talking and I was like, ‘Yes! Absolutely!’ I had been hoping somebody would hold a film festival supporting more inclusion of women in front of and behind the camera...
The festival will screen 75 films and guarantees distribution to a handful of winners. The roster of positive, entertaining cinema opens with the world premiere of War Room and closes with Universal’s Pitch Perfect 2. Guests will include Robert De Niro, Catherine Hardwicke and Rosie O’Donnell.
Davis and Arc president Trevor Drinkwater talk about how the event came about, its ties to the non-profit, the Geena Davis Institute On Gender In Media, and its aims going forward. The Bentonville Film Festival runs from May 5-9.
How did this all start?
Geena Davis: Trevor and I started talking and I was like, ‘Yes! Absolutely!’ I had been hoping somebody would hold a film festival supporting more inclusion of women in front of and behind the camera...
- 4/28/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Geena Davis and Arc Entertainment’s inaugural event has secured the network as part of a guaranteed jigsaw of distribution for prize-winners.
The Bentonville Film Festival, set to run in Arkansas from May 5-9, guarantees theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for winners of the best film, best family film and Bff audience award.
Davis on Tuesday (April 7) unveiled Lifetime as the TV distribution piece of the equation. Lifetime will also award a development deal for a winning script or treatment that will be revealed at the Bff award show.
“Lifetime and the Bentonville Film Festival create a perfect strategic alliance to complement our mutual goals toward advancing women and diversity in entertainment,” said Davis.
“Film-makers with movies in competition will undoubtedly be ecstatic to know that their work has a chance to reach a national audience on Lifetime.”
“As Bentonville Film Festival quickly grows into a national movement celebrating new voices in media, Lifetime...
The Bentonville Film Festival, set to run in Arkansas from May 5-9, guarantees theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for winners of the best film, best family film and Bff audience award.
Davis on Tuesday (April 7) unveiled Lifetime as the TV distribution piece of the equation. Lifetime will also award a development deal for a winning script or treatment that will be revealed at the Bff award show.
“Lifetime and the Bentonville Film Festival create a perfect strategic alliance to complement our mutual goals toward advancing women and diversity in entertainment,” said Davis.
“Film-makers with movies in competition will undoubtedly be ecstatic to know that their work has a chance to reach a national audience on Lifetime.”
“As Bentonville Film Festival quickly grows into a national movement celebrating new voices in media, Lifetime...
- 4/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
What was once known for being the tenth largest city in Arkansas and location of the Walmart headquarters will now be home of the Bentonville Film Festival. Chaired by actress Geena Davis and hosted by Arc Entertainment, the festival is designed to champion women and diversity in film and media. Being a close cause for the Academy Award winner, Geena Davis is the Founder and Chair of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media.
Located at Mount St. Mary’s College, the organization is the first of its kind to educate and engage entertainment companies in bringing awareness for gender balance in the arts and media. When asked why she created the institute, Davis proclaimed, ““I have been an advocate for women for most of my adult life.” Now the institute is continuing their influence with the support of the Bentonville Film Festival. “The Bentonville Film Festival is...
Located at Mount St. Mary’s College, the organization is the first of its kind to educate and engage entertainment companies in bringing awareness for gender balance in the arts and media. When asked why she created the institute, Davis proclaimed, ““I have been an advocate for women for most of my adult life.” Now the institute is continuing their influence with the support of the Bentonville Film Festival. “The Bentonville Film Festival is...
- 2/17/2015
- by Christopher Clemente
- SoundOnSight
Oscar winner Geena Davis and Arc Entertainment have teamed to launch the Bentonville Film Festival, which is designed to champion women and diversity in film. The festival, which will take place from May 5-9 in Bentonville, Arkansas, will be the first and only film competition in the world to offer guaranteed theatrical, television, digital and retail home entertainment distribution for its winners.
Bff, which is being hosted by Arc Entertainment, Walmart, Coca-Cola and AMC Theatres, will be chaired by Davis and will screen approximately 75 films in competition, ranging from studio premieres to independent features and documentaries.
The festival’s advisory...
Bff, which is being hosted by Arc Entertainment, Walmart, Coca-Cola and AMC Theatres, will be chaired by Davis and will screen approximately 75 films in competition, ranging from studio premieres to independent features and documentaries.
The festival’s advisory...
- 1/6/2015
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
Country musician Brad Paisley has teamed up with Wme, Taillight, Arc Entertainment and Walmart to launch My Country Nation, an “over the top” digital channel which delivers “country music lifestyle” programming through the internet. Also read: New Walt Disney Biopic to Be Narrated by Country Music Star Travis Tritt “My Country Nation is a great concept and I'm glad to be working with a few of my friends to make it a reality,” said Paisley in a statement given to TheWrap. “Traditional means of producing and distributing content are being redefined daily,” says Trevor Drinkwater, CEO of Arc Entertainment about the Internet channel.
- 8/18/2014
- by Travis Reilly
- The Wrap
Arc Entertainment plans to bring some life-affirming drama into moviegoers' lives, having now acquired all North American rights to Andrew Levitas' feel-good film "Lullaby," featuring an acclaimed cast that includes Garrett Hedlund, Richard Jenkins, Amy Adams, Jessica Brown Findlay, Terrence Howard and Jennifer Hudson. "Lullaby" explores the power of life, its transformative moments and reconnections between loved ones. Estranged from his family, Jonathan (Hedlund) discovers his father's decision to take himself off life support in forty-eight hours. What follows is an unexpected and powerful journey of love, laughter and forgiveness. "We are proud to release this highly-anticipated thought provoking masterpiece," stated Arc Entertainment's CEO Trevor Drinkwater. "Featuring a powerful all-star cast of Academy Award winners and nominees, 'Lullaby' is a unique film that will be enjoyed by all generations and is sure to bring you and your family closer together." The deal was negotiated...
- 2/7/2014
- by Ziyad Saadi
- Indiewire
Arc Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to writer/director Andrew Levitas's drama Lullaby , starring Garrett Hedlund ( Tron: Legacy , Inside Llewyn Davis ), Academy Award Nominee Richard Jenkins ( The Visitor , Eat, Pray, Love ), Academy Award Nominee Amy Adams ( American Hustle , Man of Steel ), Jessica Brown Findlay ( Winter's Tale , "Downton Abbey"), Academy Award Nominee Anne Archer ( Clear and Present Danger , Fatal Attraction ), Academy Award Nominee Terrence Howard ( Hustle & Flow , Iron Man ), Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson ( Dreamgirls , Winnie Mandela ) and Jessica Barden ( Hanna ). "We are proud to release this highly-anticipated thought provoking masterpiece," said Arc Entertainment's CEO Trevor Drinkwater....
- 2/6/2014
- Comingsoon.net
Arc Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to the family film "Standing Up." Based on Brock Cole's award-winning young adult novel "The Goats," the film was written and directed by D.J. Caruso ("Disturbia," "I Am Number Four"). "Standing Up" tells the story of an 11-year-old boy (Chandler Canterbury) and a 12-year-old girl (Annalise Basso) who are bullied by their peers at summer camp. Rather than returning to camp, the pair embarks on a three day journey where they encounter new experiences and form a unique friendship. Also starring is Val Kilmer. "We're glad to be a part of a film that sends a positive message to young people and the community at large that we all need to come together to 'Stand Up' against bullying," said Arc Entertainment CEO Trevor Drinkwater. "This is a film with great courage and heart." The deal was brokered by Drinkwater, CAA and...
- 7/11/2013
- by Julia Selinger
- Indiewire
Distribution round-up: Universal has said [10] it will release Angelina Jolie’s upcoming second feature as director, Unbroken, on Dec 25 2014. Separately, Arc Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to Standing Up, while Monterey Media has taken Approaching Midnight and Gravitas Ventures has picked up Ass Backwards.
The drama is based on Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, And Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand and is set to commence production in late September.
The story chronicles the survival at sea and subsequently in a Japanese Pow camp of downed WWII airman Louis ‘Louie’ Zamperini.
Joel and Ethan Coen rewrote the screenplay from earlier drafts by William Nicholson and Richard Lagravenese.
Jolie produces alongside Matthew Baer and Erwin Stoff, while Mick Garris and David Crockett are on board as executive producers. Roger Deakins serves as cinematographer.
Arc Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to the family film Standing Up based on Brock Cole’s young...
The drama is based on Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, And Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand and is set to commence production in late September.
The story chronicles the survival at sea and subsequently in a Japanese Pow camp of downed WWII airman Louis ‘Louie’ Zamperini.
Joel and Ethan Coen rewrote the screenplay from earlier drafts by William Nicholson and Richard Lagravenese.
Jolie produces alongside Matthew Baer and Erwin Stoff, while Mick Garris and David Crockett are on board as executive producers. Roger Deakins serves as cinematographer.
Arc Entertainment has acquired all North American rights to the family film Standing Up based on Brock Cole’s young...
- 7/10/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Arc Entertainment and XLrator Media have teamed to acquire North American distribution rights to the rock and roll comedy Killing Bono, which premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival. They plan a VOD release in October and a theatrical release a month later. The film's directed by Nick Hamm, stars Ben Barnes, Krysten Ritter and Martin McCann and features the last performance by the late actor Pete Postlethwaite. Written by The Commitments scribes Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais and Simon Maxwell, the film tells the story of young Irish rock musician Neil McCormick and his brother Ivan. They try to become rock stars in Dublin but are upstaged by four of their friends when they form the band U2 and become the biggest rock stars in the world. Pic's an adaptation of Neil McCormick's memoir Killing Bono: I Am Bono's Doppelganger. Arc Entertainment CEO Trevor Drinkwater and...
- 8/4/2011
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
A major management restructuring has seen Blockbuster executive Matthew Smith take over as president of Genius Products, reporting to CEO Trevor Drinkwater.
Genius, majority owned by the Weinstein Co., also has upped three key executives: Mitch Budin, Christine Martinez and Michael Radiloff.
The moves were made in anticipation of further growth as the company continues to build its portfolio through new and expanding brand and content partnerships as well as co-productions.
Genius Products chairman Stephen Bannon said Drinkwater is positioning the company "for Phase 2 of our aggressive growth strategy, which will focus on revenue growth and improvements in margin through brand and content partnerships, content production, intellectual property ownership and the acquisition of additional revenue streams."
Smith, who assumes the presidency effective Jan. 1, has been at Blockbuster for 17 years, most recently as senior vp media development and studios. At Genius, he will lead the company's continued retail expansion as well as the co-production and distribution of Genius films.
Genius, majority owned by the Weinstein Co., also has upped three key executives: Mitch Budin, Christine Martinez and Michael Radiloff.
The moves were made in anticipation of further growth as the company continues to build its portfolio through new and expanding brand and content partnerships as well as co-productions.
Genius Products chairman Stephen Bannon said Drinkwater is positioning the company "for Phase 2 of our aggressive growth strategy, which will focus on revenue growth and improvements in margin through brand and content partnerships, content production, intellectual property ownership and the acquisition of additional revenue streams."
Smith, who assumes the presidency effective Jan. 1, has been at Blockbuster for 17 years, most recently as senior vp media development and studios. At Genius, he will lead the company's continued retail expansion as well as the co-production and distribution of Genius films.
- 12/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Call it the year of smoke and mirrors.
When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.
The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.
But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.
And thus it was that in a year when everything seemed to change, nothing really did. The bottom line was still good boxoffice leads to good video sales, as it has since this business was launched nearly 30 years ago. Or, as New Line Home Entertainment president Stephen Einhorn said, "At the end of the day, home entertainment is still a new release-driven business."
"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3%, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12%. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."
"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."
Other studio presidents agree. The year is expected to again finish more or less flat, but this time no one's running for the hills. It's become clear now that the home entertainment business has entered the mature phase, and the Great Slowdown of 2005 was due more to a weak boxoffice (which traditionally precedes a down video market), as well as a dramatic drop in videocassette sales and rentals, than anything else.
Everyone's feeling pretty good, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals -- as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions."
"Notwithstanding last year's disparaging headlines regarding declining boxoffice and DVD sales, 2006 ticket sales and DVD purchases proved that the public actively enjoys moviegoing and the in-home DVD experience despite the proliferation of other entertainment alternatives," Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater said.
Much of the cheery-eyed optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the fact that the industry has just come off an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when 20th Century Fox's X-Men: The Last Stand and Buena Vista's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day.
When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.
The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.
But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.
And thus it was that in a year when everything seemed to change, nothing really did. The bottom line was still good boxoffice leads to good video sales, as it has since this business was launched nearly 30 years ago. Or, as New Line Home Entertainment president Stephen Einhorn said, "At the end of the day, home entertainment is still a new release-driven business."
"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3%, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12%. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."
"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."
Other studio presidents agree. The year is expected to again finish more or less flat, but this time no one's running for the hills. It's become clear now that the home entertainment business has entered the mature phase, and the Great Slowdown of 2005 was due more to a weak boxoffice (which traditionally precedes a down video market), as well as a dramatic drop in videocassette sales and rentals, than anything else.
Everyone's feeling pretty good, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals -- as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions."
"Notwithstanding last year's disparaging headlines regarding declining boxoffice and DVD sales, 2006 ticket sales and DVD purchases proved that the public actively enjoys moviegoing and the in-home DVD experience despite the proliferation of other entertainment alternatives," Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater said.
Much of the cheery-eyed optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the fact that the industry has just come off an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when 20th Century Fox's X-Men: The Last Stand and Buena Vista's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day.
Call it the year of smoke and mirrors.
When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.
The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.
But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.
And thus it was that in a year when everything seemed to change, nothing really did. The bottom line was still good boxoffice leads to good video sales, as it has since this business was launched nearly 30 years ago. Or, as New Line Home Entertainment president Stephen Einhorn said, "At the end of the day, home entertainment is still a new release-driven business."
"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3%, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12%. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."
"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."
Other studio presidents agree. The year is expected to again finish more or less flat, but this time no one's running for the hills. It's become clear now that the home entertainment business has entered the mature phase, and the Great Slowdown of 2005 was due more to a weak boxoffice (which traditionally precedes a down video market), as well as a dramatic drop in videocassette sales and rentals, than anything else.
"Everyone's feeling pretty good", 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals -- as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions."
"Notwithstanding last year's disparaging headlines regarding declining boxoffice and DVD sales, 2006 ticket sales and DVD purchases proved that the public actively enjoys moviegoing and the in-home DVD experience despite the proliferation of other entertainment alternatives," Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater said.
Much of the cheery-eyed optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the fact that the industry has just come off an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when 20th Century Fox's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and Buena Vista's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day.
When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.
The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.
But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.
And thus it was that in a year when everything seemed to change, nothing really did. The bottom line was still good boxoffice leads to good video sales, as it has since this business was launched nearly 30 years ago. Or, as New Line Home Entertainment president Stephen Einhorn said, "At the end of the day, home entertainment is still a new release-driven business."
"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3%, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12%. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."
"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."
Other studio presidents agree. The year is expected to again finish more or less flat, but this time no one's running for the hills. It's become clear now that the home entertainment business has entered the mature phase, and the Great Slowdown of 2005 was due more to a weak boxoffice (which traditionally precedes a down video market), as well as a dramatic drop in videocassette sales and rentals, than anything else.
"Everyone's feeling pretty good", 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals -- as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions."
"Notwithstanding last year's disparaging headlines regarding declining boxoffice and DVD sales, 2006 ticket sales and DVD purchases proved that the public actively enjoys moviegoing and the in-home DVD experience despite the proliferation of other entertainment alternatives," Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater said.
Much of the cheery-eyed optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the fact that the industry has just come off an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when 20th Century Fox's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and Buena Vista's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day.
- 12/31/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Call it the year of smoke and mirrors.
When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.
The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.
But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.
And thus it was that in a year when everything seemed to change, nothing really did. The bottom line was still good boxoffice leads to good video sales, as it has since this business was launched nearly 30 years ago. Or, as New Line Home Entertainment president Stephen Einhorn said, "At the end of the day, home entertainment is still a new release-driven business."
"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3%, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12%. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."
"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."
Other studio presidents agree. The year is expected to again finish more or less flat, but this time no one's running for the hills. It's become clear now that the home entertainment business has entered the mature phase, and the Great Slowdown of 2005 was due more to a weak boxoffice (which traditionally precedes a down video market), as well as a dramatic drop in videocassette sales and rentals, than anything else.
"Everyone's feeling pretty good", 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals -- as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions."
"Notwithstanding last year's disparaging headlines regarding declining boxoffice and DVD sales, 2006 ticket sales and DVD purchases proved that the public actively enjoys moviegoing and the in-home DVD experience despite the proliferation of other entertainment alternatives," Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater said.
Much of the cheery-eyed optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the fact that the industry has just come off an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when 20th Century Fox's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and Buena Vista's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day.
When 2006 began, fearful studio executives were still reeling with the first down year in DVD history. They were anxiously looking for salvation, and hoping to find it in high-definition discs, digital downloads or perhaps a combination of the two.
The next generation of software did launch in 2006, regrettably with two incompatible formats, first HD-DVD in April and then Blu-ray Disc in June. Digital downloading began as well, with all the big Hollywood studios aggressively selling their hot new movies on Movielink, CinemaNow, Apple's iTunes and other download services. Studio executives even coined a new term, "electronic sell-through," or EST, for the lucrative business model.
But in the end, none of these technological marvels really mattered. High-def discs still are a blip on the sales radar, and digital downloading are even less of a blip. And lo and behold, what saved the day for home entertainment was an unexpected resurgence in the DVD market, fueled by a powerful slate of summer theatricals.
And thus it was that in a year when everything seemed to change, nothing really did. The bottom line was still good boxoffice leads to good video sales, as it has since this business was launched nearly 30 years ago. Or, as New Line Home Entertainment president Stephen Einhorn said, "At the end of the day, home entertainment is still a new release-driven business."
"What we're looking at is a market that is up slightly from last year, overall," Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. "But if you break down the components, we're projecting DVD sales to be up 3%, year-over-year, and rental to be up about 12%. What drags the industry down to a flat or slightly up basis is that VHS sales and rentals are virtually going away."
"The industry is up as a whole, despite a decrease in overall pricing," said Kelley Avery, president of worldwide home entertainment at Paramount Pictures. "Contrary to popular belief, reports of the decline of DVD have been exaggerated."
Other studio presidents agree. The year is expected to again finish more or less flat, but this time no one's running for the hills. It's become clear now that the home entertainment business has entered the mature phase, and the Great Slowdown of 2005 was due more to a weak boxoffice (which traditionally precedes a down video market), as well as a dramatic drop in videocassette sales and rentals, than anything else.
"Everyone's feeling pretty good", 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn said. "Thanks to the fourth quarter, the year may wind up in positive territory, and a big reason is the strong slate of summer theatricals -- as well as TV-DVD and some really strong catalog titles and promotions."
"Notwithstanding last year's disparaging headlines regarding declining boxoffice and DVD sales, 2006 ticket sales and DVD purchases proved that the public actively enjoys moviegoing and the in-home DVD experience despite the proliferation of other entertainment alternatives," Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater said.
Much of the cheery-eyed optimism floating around the studio DVD divisions stems from the fact that the industry has just come off an exceptionally strong fourth quarter. Things got off to a good start when 20th Century Fox's "X-Men: The Last Stand" and Buena Vista's "The Little Mermaid Platinum Edition" generated $80 million in consumer spending in a single day.
- 12/30/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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