Agreement Unites the Two Companies' Complementary
Strengths on up to 12 Wide Release Films
LOS ANGELES and SANTA MONICA,
Calif., Nov. 13, 2014 /CNW/
-- Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next-generation global
content leader, and CBS Films, a multifaceted feature film studio
releasing quality films in all genres, have formed a multi-year
distribution partnership which will begin with the 2015 release of
the teen comedy The DUFF, the two companies announced
today.
Under the agreement, CBS Films will acquire or produce the films
and shepherd the marketing efforts with Lionsgate overseeing
distribution initiatives across all media, including theatrical and
home entertainment platforms. In addition, Lionsgate will
handle exclusive international sales for all titles under the
agreement with the exception of The DUFF.
The agreement gives CBS Films access to Lionsgate's distribution
prowess as well as its global sales infrastructure, while Lionsgate
will receive a new and consistent source of branded quality wide
release films for its theatrical and home entertainment
pipelines. Outside of this new strategic arrangement, CBS
Films will continue to acquire, produce and self-distribute its own
limited releases.
"Making movies is only half of the equation—today's marketplace
demands a strategic approach to marketing and distribution that is
fluid and creative, and no company has demonstrated more vision and
innovation than Lionsgate," said CBS Films President Terry Press. "As we build our homegrown slate
and expand our efforts in the acquisition space, we're thrilled to
partner with the outstanding Lionsgate team on a plan that provides
the flexibility to handle these ambitions."
"CBS Films has emerged as a creative force that will serve as a
commercially exciting and reliable source of quality mainstream
theatrical releases for years to come," said Lionsgate Co-Chief
Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President Steve Beeks. "Our partnership unites two
companies with powerful brands, complementary strengths and similar
entrepreneurial cultures in a distribution agreement that extends
the terrific Lionsgate/CBS relationship."
Lionsgate and CBS are also partnered in TVGN currently being
rebranded as POP. Additionally, the two companies joined
forces on the critically acclaimed romantic comedy Salmon
Fishing in the Yemen.
The first film to be released under the new agreement is the
high school comedy The DUFF, based on the bestselling novel
by Kody Keplinger and directed by
Ari Sandel from a screenplay by
Josh Cagan. McG, Mary Viola and Susan
Cartsonis produced The DUFF with Lane Bishop serving as executive producer.
The film follows Bianca (Mae
Whitman), a high school senior whose world is shattered when
a charming jock (Robbie Amell)
informs her that the student body knows her as The DUFF
(Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends
(Skyler Samuels and Bianca
Santos).
Set for release in early 2015, the film also stars Bella Thorne, Nick
Eversman, Ken Jeong and
Allison Janney. The first
teaser trailer for The DUFF will appear in theaters on
Lionsgate's global blockbuster The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part
1 next week.
ABOUT CBS FILMS
CBS Films is a division of CBS Corporation. The division
develops, finances, acquires, produces and releases theatrical
feature films spanning all genres. For more information,
log on to www.cbsfilms.com.
ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate, home to The Hunger Games, Twilight and
Divergent franchises, is a premier next-generation global
content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion
picture production and distribution, television programming and
syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, new channel
platforms and international distribution and sales. Lionsgate
currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different
networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and
syndication businesses, including such critically acclaimed hits as
the multiple Emmy Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse
Jackie, the comedy Anger Management, the broadcast
network series Nashville,
the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show and the
critically acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black.
Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent
successes as the blockbuster first two installments of The
Hunger Games franchise, The Hunger Games and The
Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the first installment of the
Divergent franchise, Now You See Me, John Wick, Warm Bodies, The
Possession, Sinister, Roadside Attractions' A Most
Wanted Man, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films' Addicted and
Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the
highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the
U.S.
Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in
box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates.
Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of
approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is
an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the
foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The
Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original,
daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
www.lionsgate.com
Press Contact:
Grey Munford
CBS Films
310-575-7425
grey.munford@cbs.com
Peter D. Wilkes
Lionsgate
310-255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com
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SOURCE Lionsgate