Toronto-based Alliance Communications Corporation comes to the AFM with one of the hottest films from both Berlin and Sundance - Welcome to the Dollhouse. Winner of a Jury Prize at Berlin and the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, this stark, suburban comedy, written and directed by Todd Solondz, will be screening for international buyers at AFM.
Alliance has acquired worldwide rights excluding North Americas (Sony distributes in the US and Norstar distributes in Cnanada). Recently concluded deals on the film include those with Kinowelt in Germany, ARP in France, Vertigo in Spain, Lucky Red i Italy and Artificial Eye in the UK. Alliance senior vice president of film sales Charlotte Mickie is currently in negotiation with companies in Australia, Scandinavia, Benelux and Brazil.
Other cutting-edge films on the Alliance slate include House, a darkly funny comedy directed by Laurie Lynd and starring Daniel McIvor, based on McIvor's play; Curtis's Charm, directed and written by John L'Ecuyer from a short story by Jim Carroll; and Frisk, directed by Todd Verow.
Earlier this month Alliance releasing, a subsidiary of Alliance Communications Corporation, renewed a long-term distribution agreement with Miramax Films. The deal expands on the original commitment of 50 titles to includes 50 additional titles over the next five years, for all media, and “reaffirms our position as the leading theatrical, video and television distribution company in Canada,” said Victor Loewy, president of Alliance Releasing.
Meanwhile, Le Monde Entertainment, another Alliance Communications Company, which specializes in packaging and distributing pictures worldwide, has two sci-fi/action features premiering at AFM: The Demolitionist, directed by special effects maestro Robert Kurtzman, and Within The Rock, directed by Gary J. Tunnicliffe and starring Xander Berkeley (Apollo 13).
Alliance's previous coupling with MDP, however, is no longer active. Mark Damon, chairman and CEO of MDP Worldwide explained that just prior to Mifed both parties mutually agreed to drop the formalisation once it became clear that there were little or no benefits from being formally bound together under the legislation of two countries -- the US and Canada -- rather than each operating independently. “We have, and continue to discuss, areas of co-operation,” Damon says. “Going into the AFM, the two companies are as close, if not closer, than they were before. It is a relationship which is informal rather than formal.”
Nick Thomas
