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Charlatan · 06-02-2004, 05:40 AM

VARIETY.com (it's a subscription site so I can't give you the link)

'9/11': Moore the merrier
LG, U chasing DVD rights as feevee goes to Showtime

By DANA HARRIS, DAVID ROONEY

This article was updated at 10:00 p.m.
Michael MooreMichael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" has landed a U.S. distribution deal in time to spark plenty of July 4 and pre-election fireworks.

Palme d'Or winner will be released June 25 on close to 1,000 U.S. screens, through a joint venture of Lions GateLions Gate Films, IFC Films and Harvey and Bob WeinsteinBob Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure Group.

The Weinsteins created the Fellowship shingleshingle to handle the release of the controversial film, which the Miramax principals bought back from their corporate parent, the Walt Disney Co.

Pay TV rights will go through Showtime, Lions Gate's pay TV partner.

Although IFC Films has a sister outlet in cablercabler Independent Film Channel, basic cable rights are not part of the IFC distribution deal.

DVD rights are being hammered out separately. While Lions Gate is eager to make that deal, Universal Studios Home Video is another strong contender.

Similarly, Canadian distribution is still on the table, with Lions Gate and Alliance Atlantis as the primary bidders.

A Miramax reprep confirmed the Weinsteins sent a letter to all members of the Miramax marketing staff stating that no one on the Miramax payroll should be involved with the marketing and release of "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Fellowship will finance and control distribution and marketing. The Weinsteins have appointed creative advertising and marketing consultant Matthew Cohen as marketing director for this company to create and oversee all marketing materials.

Ken Sunshine ConsultantsKen Sunshine Consultants has been hired to handle PR and will work closely with the Weinsteins and the coalition on the film's release.

"With Frodo (Harvey) and Sam (Bob) now in charge of the Fellowship, I welcome the addition of Lions Gate and IFC to our quest in bringing good family entertainment to the viewing public," Moore said. "(Lions Gate CEO) Jon Feltheimer produced my series 'TV Nation' and IFC produced my series 'The Awful Truth.' Not only am I in good hands, I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so."

"This is a true coalition," the Weinsteins said in a statement. "The passion that Lions Gate, IFC Films and Showtime have demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed by as many filmgoers as possible as soon as possible."

Lions Gate and IFC are both expected to bankroll the film's P&AP&A spend.

In what may be the shortest time ever between acquisition and release, the distribs have just 24 days to get "Fahrenheit" into theaters, an incredibly short amount of time in which to secure screens, cut trailers and plan ad buys.

Within minutes of announcing the deal, Lions Gate was already holding meetings on what kind of television ads would need to be bought. Meetings with Moore were skedded for today in Gotham to figure out what marketing materials already existed, if any.

Cause will be helped by huge publicity generated by the pic. Even before Tuesday's deal, many exhibs, eager to book "Fahrenheit," had already begun discussions with distribs that were seeking to land the docdoc, including Lions Gate and IFC.

While a Fellowship rep would not comment on the rationale behind the Lions Gate-IFC partnership, there may be several reasons for creating the alliance.

While both are indie distribs, the companies have different strengths. Lions Gate has experience in handling wide releases like "The Punisher," while IFC has a track record in word of mouth marketing on pics like "Touching the Void""Touching The Void" and "Y tu mama tambien."

And while Lions Gate is the more powerful distribdistrib, IFC parent Cablevision wields its own power with 3 million subscribers in the New York area. Cablevision is owned by the Dolan family, which also owns the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall.

Finally, Lions Gate and IFC may only be the linchpins in what the Weinsteins have termed "an alliance with several key industry players." In the announcement made Tuesday afternoon, the Fellowship said, "It is anticipated that other names will shortly be added to the coalition as partnerships on other distribution avenues are announced."

Of the coalition, Lions Gate Films Releasing prexyprexy Tom Ortenberg said, "It's about supporting free speech through the release of this film."

Said Feltheimer, "Lions Gate is a natural home for 'Fahrenheit 9/11.' Michael along with Harvey and Bob Weinstein have invested tremendous passion in this powerful and riveting film, and we are confident that we can match their passion and ingenuity in distributing it to a national audience."

"From our experience, just having been in Cannes and talking with exhibitors, they all said they would find room for the movie," IFC Entertainment president Jonathan SehringJonathan Sehring told Daily Variety. "It's a tough time to get screens, but working together with Lions Gate we think we'll be able to deliver."

The Weinsteins will continue to use the Wild Bunch, the Paris-based sales agent, for negotiating international distribution arrangements. Wild Bunch has already put several such distrib deals in place.

(Gabriel Snyder contributed to this report.)

______________________________________________

So it looks like it will get released in time for July 4th...

Interestingly Lions Gate is a Canadian company, though I wouldn't read too much into that.

06-02-2004, 05:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	Lions Gate to release Fahrenheit 9/11 VARIETY.com (it's a subscription site so I can't give you the link) '9/11': Moore the merrier LG, U chasing DVD rights as feevee goes to Showtime By DANA HARRIS, DAVID ROONEY This article was updated at 10:00 p.m. Michael MooreMichael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" has landed a U.S. distribution deal in time to spark plenty of July 4 and pre-election fireworks. Palme d'Or winner will be released June 25 on close to 1,000 U.S. screens, through a joint venture of Lions GateLions Gate Films, IFC Films and Harvey and Bob WeinsteinBob Weinstein's Fellowship Adventure Group. The Weinsteins created the Fellowship shingleshingle to handle the release of the controversial film, which the Miramax principals bought back from their corporate parent, the Walt Disney Co. Pay TV rights will go through Showtime, Lions Gate's pay TV partner. Although IFC Films has a sister outlet in cablercabler Independent Film Channel, basic cable rights are not part of the IFC distribution deal. DVD rights are being hammered out separately. While Lions Gate is eager to make that deal, Universal Studios Home Video is another strong contender. Similarly, Canadian distribution is still on the table, with Lions Gate and Alliance Atlantis as the primary bidders. A Miramax reprep confirmed the Weinsteins sent a letter to all members of the Miramax marketing staff stating that no one on the Miramax payroll should be involved with the marketing and release of "Fahrenheit 9/11." Fellowship will finance and control distribution and marketing. The Weinsteins have appointed creative advertising and marketing consultant Matthew Cohen as marketing director for this company to create and oversee all marketing materials. Ken Sunshine ConsultantsKen Sunshine Consultants has been hired to handle PR and will work closely with the Weinsteins and the coalition on the film's release. "With Frodo (Harvey) and Sam (Bob) now in charge of the Fellowship, I welcome the addition of Lions Gate and IFC to our quest in bringing good family entertainment to the viewing public," Moore said. "(Lions Gate CEO) Jon Feltheimer produced my series 'TV Nation' and IFC produced my series 'The Awful Truth.' Not only am I in good hands, I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so." "This is a true coalition," the Weinsteins said in a statement. "The passion that Lions Gate, IFC Films and Showtime have demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed by as many filmgoers as possible as soon as possible." Lions Gate and IFC are both expected to bankroll the film's P&AP&A spend. In what may be the shortest time ever between acquisition and release, the distribs have just 24 days to get "Fahrenheit" into theaters, an incredibly short amount of time in which to secure screens, cut trailers and plan ad buys. Within minutes of announcing the deal, Lions Gate was already holding meetings on what kind of television ads would need to be bought. Meetings with Moore were skedded for today in Gotham to figure out what marketing materials already existed, if any. Cause will be helped by huge publicity generated by the pic. Even before Tuesday's deal, many exhibs, eager to book "Fahrenheit," had already begun discussions with distribs that were seeking to land the docdoc, including Lions Gate and IFC. While a Fellowship rep would not comment on the rationale behind the Lions Gate-IFC partnership, there may be several reasons for creating the alliance. While both are indie distribs, the companies have different strengths. Lions Gate has experience in handling wide releases like "The Punisher," while IFC has a track record in word of mouth marketing on pics like "Touching the Void""Touching The Void" and "Y tu mama tambien." And while Lions Gate is the more powerful distribdistrib, IFC parent Cablevision wields its own power with 3 million subscribers in the New York area. Cablevision is owned by the Dolan family, which also owns the New York Knicks, Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall. Finally, Lions Gate and IFC may only be the linchpins in what the Weinsteins have termed "an alliance with several key industry players." In the announcement made Tuesday afternoon, the Fellowship said, "It is anticipated that other names will shortly be added to the coalition as partnerships on other distribution avenues are announced." Of the coalition, Lions Gate Films Releasing prexyprexy Tom Ortenberg said, "It's about supporting free speech through the release of this film." Said Feltheimer, "Lions Gate is a natural home for 'Fahrenheit 9/11.' Michael along with Harvey and Bob Weinstein have invested tremendous passion in this powerful and riveting film, and we are confident that we can match their passion and ingenuity in distributing it to a national audience." "From our experience, just having been in Cannes and talking with exhibitors, they all said they would find room for the movie," IFC Entertainment president Jonathan SehringJonathan Sehring told Daily Variety. "It's a tough time to get screens, but working together with Lions Gate we think we'll be able to deliver." The Weinsteins will continue to use the Wild Bunch, the Paris-based sales agent, for negotiating international distribution arrangements. Wild Bunch has already put several such distrib deals in place. (Gabriel Snyder contributed to this report.) ______________________________________________ So it looks like it will get released in time for July 4th... Interestingly Lions Gate is a Canadian company, though I wouldn't read too much into that.