FilmDistrict

FilmDistrict Distribution, LLC was an American motion picture company based in Los Angeles. It specialized in acquisitions, distribution, production, and financing. It was founded in August 2010 by Peter Schlessel in partnership with Graham King and Timothy Headington.

FilmDistrict Distribution, LLC
Private
IndustryFilm
FateMerged into Focus Features
SuccessorFocus Features (label of Gramercy Pictures in 2015)
Founded2010
FounderGraham King
Timothy Headington
Peter Schlessel
Bob Berney
Defunct2014
Headquarters1540 2nd Street
Suite 200
Los Angeles, California, USA
Key people
Peter Schlessel (CEO)
Adrian Alperovich (COO)
Christine Birch (President of Marketing)
Jim Orr (President of Distribution)
Lia Buman (EVP of Acquisitions)
Bob Berney (President of Theatrical Distribution)
ProductsMotion pictures
Number of employees
45
Websitefilmdistrict.com

FilmDistrict's releases were distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment for home and media markets, and after early 2014 those operations were handled by Focus Features and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment respectively, with the exception of Red Dawn, which was released on DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. FilmDistrict was dissolved into Focus Features in 2014. Soul Surfer, Looper, Evil Dead and Pompeii were retained by TriStar Pictures after 2014, while the rights to Red Dawn reverted to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

History

FilmDistrict acquired and released between four and eight wide release, commercial titles per year. This includes select titles from GK Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions.[1][2] In December 2010, FilmDistrict and Netflix signed a Pay-TV deal.[3]

FilmDistrict partnered with TriStar Pictures on select films such as Soul Surfer and Looper. FilmDistrict's CEO Peter Schlessel also made alternative distribution arrangements for their film releases. In 2012, Schlessel closed a three-picture distribution deal for their 2012 films to go through Open Road Films. Open Road released Lockout, the Luc Besson-produced sci-fi action movie that stars Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace, on April 13, 2012. Open Road also released the Red Dawn remake on November 21, 2012. On Open Road's official website they list both the Red Dawn remake and Playing the Field, even though Open Road was never involved in distributing those two films.[4]

On March 23, 2012, Peter Schlessel announced that FilmDistrict hired Christine Birch as President of Marketing as the company rebuilt its distribution team. She worked on The Help, Real Steel and War Horse when she was at DreamWorks.[5] On April 12, 2012, Schlessel announced Jim Orr has joined FilmDistrict as the new President of Distribution. He held similar positions when he was at MGM and Paramount Pictures.[6] At the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, FilmDistrict bought the U.S. rights for romantic thriller Dead Man Down[7] and, from Intrepid Pictures, Oculus.[8] On May 31, 2012, they have hired three new executives: Tracy Pollard (Senior VP of Creative Advertising), Brad Goldberg (Senior VP of Media), and Anna Baxter (Senior VP of Digital Marketing). FilmDistrict also announced that Adrian Alperovich has been promoted from President of Acquisitions and Operations to COO.[9] On June 25, 2012 FilmDistrict announced they have hired Elissa Greer as Senior Vice President of Publicity.[10]

In April 2013, FilmDistrict announced the launch of a unit, High Top Releasing, which "will provide distribution-for-hire services including sales, in-theatre marketing and print control support, film rental negotiation and collection capabilities to independent producers who have the ability to provide their own prints-and-advertising and marketing resources."[11]

On October 2, 2013, it was announced that Peter Schlessel would be replacing James Schamus as CEO of Focus Features effective January 2014, and FilmDistrict was shut down as a distributor. Future FilmDistrict titles will be absorbed and released under Focus Features, the first being That Awkward Moment.[12] FilmDistrict's last film is Paul W. S. Anderson's Pompeii, which the company produced and financed with German-based Constantin Film. TriStar Pictures handled the U.S. distribution. High Top Releasing later co-released Eli Roth's The Green Inferno with Blumhouse Tilt.

Filmography

Released
Release DateTitleNotes
September 14, 2010InsidiousFilmDistrict's first release; co-production with Blumhouse Productions, Alliance Films, Stage 6 Films and IM Global
April 8, 2011Soul Surferco-production with TriStar Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, Enticing Entertainment and Brookwell/McNamara Entertainment
August 26, 2011Don't Be Afraid of the Darkco-production with Miramax
October 7, 2011Driveco-production with Sierra/Affinity, Bold Films and OddLot Entertainment
November 4, 2011The Rum Diaryco-production with GK Films and Infinitum Nihil
December 2, 2011In the Land of Blood and Honeyco-production with GK Films
April 13, 2012Lockoutco-production with Canal+, Ciné+ and EuropaCorp; theatrically released by Open Road Films
June 8, 2012Safety Not Guaranteedco-production with Big Beach
September 28, 2012LooperUS co-distribution with TriStar Pictures; production by Endgame Entertainment, FilmNation Entertainment and DMG Entertainment
November 21, 2012Red Dawnco-production with Contrafilm, United Artists and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
December 7, 2012Playing for Keepsco-production with Millennium Films
January 25, 2013Parkerco-production with Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Incentive Filmed Entertainment
March 8, 2013Dead Man Downco-production with IM Global, WWE Studios and Original Film
March 22, 2013Olympus Has Fallenco-production with Millennium Films and Nu Image
April 5, 2013Evil Deadco-production with TriStar Pictures and Ghost House Pictures
September 13, 2013Insidious: Chapter 2US distribution only, co-production with Entertainment One, Blumhouse Productions and Stage 6 Films
November 27, 2013Oldboyco-production with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks and Good Universe
February 21, 2014PompeiiFilmDistrict's final film, co-production with TriStar Pictures, Summit Entertainment, Constantin Film and Impact Pictures
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References
  1. Kilday, Gregg (September 27, 2010). "King's FilmDistrict taps Bob Berney". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. "filmdistributorguide – Film District". Distributorreportcard.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  3. FilmDistrict Netflix Retrieved July 6, 2010
  4. Open Road Films (June 28, 2012). "Playing the field". Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
  5. Christine Birch Joins FilmDistrict as Marketing President
  6. "FilmDistrict Hires Jim Orr As President Of Distribution". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  7. Fleming, Mike (2012-05-17). "FilmDistrict Buys U.S. Rights To Colin Farrell-Noomi Rapace Pic 'Dead Man Down'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  8. Fleming, Mike (2012-05-16). "FilmDistrict Acquires 'Oculus': Cannes". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  9. Kilday, Gregg (2012-05-31). "FilmDistrict Names Three New Marketing Executives". Hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  10. "FilmDistrict Hires New Line's Elissa Greer As SVP Publicity". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
  11. Deadline.com
  12. "Focus Features Hires Peter Schlessel to Replace James Schamus as CEO". October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
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