A new US distribution company, Legacy Releasing Corporation, has been formed to release between 10 and 15 quality motion pictures a year into the US theatrical marketplace.
The company, which is headed by Mark Borde, already has the first of three P&A funds in place, as well as agreements for its first national and regional releases.
Legacy plans to represent a number of major producers, production companies, video companies and foreign and independent producers. "We are not a production company, nor a video or television company for now," said Borde. "We release movies to theatres. Period. While the company plans to release a wide variety of product, Legacy is not a boutique or speciality product-orientated company, per se.
"Our focus will be more aligned to the InterStar style of a few years back, which will be wide or semi-wide distribution of more 'commercial' or 'mainstream' films."
Republic Pictures is Legacy's first client with the critical favourite Once Upon A Time ...When We Were Colored, which recently won the Grand Prize at the 29th Annual WorldFest Houston International Film Festival. Now in 32 theatres, having peaked at 50, ...When We Were Colored, has taken US$1,670,557 after 101 days on release and is still averaging over US$1,400 per screen.
Republic's Open Season, which is directed by Robert Wuhl, opened in Los Angeles on 3 May and in New York on 10 May. Other forthcoming Republic Pictures titles include Rumpelstiltskin, set to open 17 May, and Killer, starring James Woods and Sean Leonard.
Republic will be screening both ...When We Were Colored and Open Season in Cannes. Other films on Republic's Cannes slate include David Greene's Season In Purgatory, based on Dominick Dunne's best-selling novel, as well as Andy Wolk's psychological thriller, Kiss and Tell, which stars Cheryl Ladd.
Additionally, the company has acquired all domestic theatrical rights to Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows from Good Times Entertainment. The combined live action and animated film is set to open on 12 July.
A distribution deal has also been inked between Legacy and Cabin Fever Entertainment for at least three of its new slate of feature films. These include Lovers Knot, which features performances from both Tim Curry and Jennifer Gray.
Christopher Pickard
