As Saban Films continues to grow its presence in the industry, the company announced today that it is entering the UK market via a partnership with Altitude Media Group.
The partnership will see Saban and Altitude together release 10 to 12 films annually in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting in October of this year. Saban will spearhead the acquisition of the films, with the first slate to include the Bruce Willis action films Cosmic Sin and Reactor.
“We’re delighted to be partnering with our friends at Saban in this important step into the UK and Irish market. We look forward to working closely with them on this ambitious slate and beyond,” said Will Clarke, Chairman and joint-CEO, Altitude Media Group.
Saban Films’ President Bill Bromiley and COO / CFO Shanan Becker brokered the deal along with Andy Mayson and Will Clarke for Altitude.
Saban and Altitude have previously partnered on several Altitude productions including Jason Lei Howden’s Guns Akimbo, the darkly comedic action sci-fi thriller starring Daniel Radcliffe and Samara Weaving; Nick Rowland’s feature film debut The Shadow of Violence (aka Calm With Horses) starring Cosmo Jarvis, Niamh Algar and Barry Keoghan; and the critically acclaimed Glenn Close thriller Girl With All The Gifts.
Saban Films most recently released the Nikolaj Coster-Waldau thriller The Silencing, becoming the top ranked film in the country per iTunes. The film also opened on 79 screens, taking in $53,205, making it the top grossing new film release with the highest per-screen average in the U.S.
Saban Films remains aggressive in the acquisition and distribution space, with 30 films slated for release this year. Saban is an active buyer of motion pictures at all stages of production, from script to completed films.
The company’s successes have run the gamut from critically acclaimed theatrical films such as The Homesman starring Hilary Swank, to two of the biggest Fathom events with horror icon and heavy metal mastermind Rob Zombie’s 3 From Hell last year and Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, the sequel to the 2001 comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back which the company partnered on after coming onboard at script stage. Saban’s upcoming U.S. and North American slate includes: Dennis Dugan’s Love, Weddings & Other Disasters starring Diane Keaton, Jeremy Irons, Maggie Grace, Jesse McCartney, Chandra West, Diego Boneta, Andrew Bachelor, and Veronica Ferres; Jamie Babbit’s The Stand-In with Drew Barrymore in a dual lead role alongside Michael Zegen, Ellie Kemper, T.J. Miller, and Holland Taylor; Josh Duhamel’s directorial debut Buddy Games; the Alicia Silverstone wedding comedy Sister of the Groom; Nicol Paone’s Friendsgiving with Malin Akerman, Christine Taylor, Jane Seymour, Kat Dennings and Chelsea Peretti; John Suits’ Breach starring Bruce Willis; and Twist starring Michael Caine, Lena Headey and Rita Ora.
