Independent film distributor Bleecker Street and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment have inked a multi-year output deal in which Uphe will handle all marketing, sales and home video and VOD release services for Bleecker Street films in the U.S. The announcement was made jointly today by Uphe President Eddie Cunningham and Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen, who earlier this week sealed a Canadian distribution deal with Elevation. Bleecker Street looks to fill the specialty market void left when Peter Schlessel took over Universal specialty label Focus with a more genre-focus in mind. Karpen is looking for both limited and wide releases, and is willing to use multiple avenues to reach audiences, whether theatrical day-and-date, although he still believes in the traditional theatrical model, according to a source close to the company. Bleecker is looking for a mix of acquisitions and co-productions, and has no plans to form a foreign sales component,...