Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

Here Media announced the launch of Here Films, its new acquisition and distribution division. All current staff of Regent Releasing will be folded into the newly formed parent company Here Media effective immediately.

Here Films staff will oversee all remaining Regent releases through 2009, with all new films being released through the Here Films banner. Here Films’ recent acquisitions include Cannes Directors' Fortnight winner I Killed My Mother, written and directed by 20-year-old Xavier Dolan; Berlin Silver Bear Winner About Elly, directed by Asghar Farhadi; and Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. Here Films will distribute all three pictures in select U.S. theatres, on DVD and via here! Networks in 2010.

"This launch marks an important evolution for us as a company and a distributor by allowing us to effectively utilize all our brands and maximize our cross-platform distribution capabilities to bring award-winning world cinema with universal appeal to U.S. audiences across multiple platforms," said Paul Colichman and Stephen P. Jarchow, CEO and chairman of Here Media.

Mark Reinhart, executive VP, distribution and acquisitions, will continue to lead the Here Films distribution team, with staffers John Lambert, senior VP, theatrical distribution; Liz Mackiewicz, senior VP, sales and distribution, and Jonathon Aubry, VP, marketing and distribution, reporting to him directly.

Here Films plans to release eight to 12 films a year.