Roadside Attractions, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) and Steve Bing’s Shangri-La Entertainment are in final negotiations to form a joint venture to distribute CSNY: Déjà Vu, a film directed by Neil Young, in the US on July 25, 2008, it was announced today.
Roadside Attractions will handle the theatrical release simultaneously with the VOD release, which will be handled by Lionsgate. In addition, Netflix will air the film on “Watch Instantly” streaming service on July 25th as well. Reprise Records, the band’s label is putting out the DVD, and Mark Cuban’s HDNet will air the film simultaneously with the DVD release in the fall before the election.
Since their debut in the late ‘sixties, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young have functioned as the “town criers” of their generation. CSNY: Déjà Vu finds the band heading out on their “Freedom of Speech 2006” tour of North America, featuring music from Neil Young’s controversial “Living With War” CD. With “Embedded” reporter Mike Cerre aboard, the film documents audience reactions to the music and the band’s ongoing connection with its fans, all against the backdrop of the Iraq/Afghanistan War. Songs from the Tour are woven together with archival material, news footage, and audience reaction and observations, as the film examines the issues surrounding the integration of politics and art.
“We are very excited to partner with Lionsgate and Shangri-La Entertainment on the theatrical and VOD release of such a timely and entertaining documentary,” said Howard Cohen, Co-President of Roadside Attractions. “The decision to release CSNY: Déjà Vu simultaneously theatrically and on VOD is an exciting opportunity for us to change traditional distribution methods because of the changing marketplace for independent films.”
CSNY: Déjà Vu deal was negotiated for Roadside by Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, and for Lionsgate by Tom Ortenberg and by Cinetic on behalf of Shangri-La Entertainment.
About Roadside Attractions
Roadside Attractions is an independent film distribution company committed to championing films that entertain, delight, and enlighten audiences of all kinds. The company works with filmmakers to devise innovative marketing strategies that encourage audiences to see films that are not typical studio fare. Currently in release is world renowned commercial director, Tarsem’s , THE FALL, Starring Lee Pace and Cantica Untaru, and presented by David Fincher and Spike Jonze. The film was shot in over 25 countries and creates a visually sumptuous fantasy world of exotic bandits, evil tyrants, dream-like palaces and breathtaking landscapes. Also in theatres is BEFORE THE RAINS, a moving and poetic story directed by Santosh Sivan.
Previous theatrical releases include the Academy Award(R) nominated SUPER SIZE ME, Independent
Spirit Award winner THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO, box office hits such as AMAZING GRACE, LADIES IN
LAVENDER and WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW? and more recent releases include the Toronto Film
Festival People’s Choice winner, BELLA; Andrew Wagner’s STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING, starring 2007
Tony Award(R) winner Frank Langella which has garnered 2 Independent Spirit Award nominations including Best Actor and Cannes Director’s Fortnight hit CARAMEL and Brett MorgenÂ’s CHICAGO 10.
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has partnered with Sony Corporation and Comcast in the operation of the highly successful FEARNet branded VOD and Internet horror channel, recently announced the fall 2009 launch of a new premium entertainment channel with partners Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM, and has invested in the leading young men’s digital distribution platform Break.com.
Lionsgate generated more than $450 million in North American box office during the past year, driven by a string of hits including the martial arts action film Forbidden Kingdom, starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li, the action film Rambo, the thriller The Eye, the action thriller The Bank Job, the horror film Saw IV, the latest installment in the most popular horror franchise in history, the action film 3:10 To Yuma, the comedy Good Luck Chuck, the family dramas Meet The Browns and Why Did I Get Married?, and the action film War, starring Jason Statham and Jet Li. Lionsgate’s prestigious and prolific library of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles is an important source of recurring revenue that serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.