E1 Entertainment Adds France to Global Distribution Network
Date: April 8, 2010
Source: E1 Entertainment
– First releases scheduled for July 2010 –
TORONTO – E1 Entertainment (E1), one of the world’s premiere independent entertainment distributors, is adding another major market to its territory list, expanding its international operations to France. With the move, E1 grows its strong presence in Europe and positions itself for growth in the French market and internationally.
“E1’s global success has been directly tied to our ability to develop and service a global distribution network,” said Patrice Theroux, President, Filmed Entertainment at E1. “We’re thrilled to be bringing the E1 brand to France, enhancing our robust distribution operations in Europe and leveraging our expanded network to position us for further growth internationally.”
E1’s strong programming acquisition strategy has created a powerful international distribution division and the company is proactively expanding its extensive library of international titles, including actively acquiring rights for the countries in its distribution network. The company’s ongoing investment in production and rights acquisition across the film, children’s and TV drama genres has fueled its expansion, allowing E1 to maximize revenue generating opportunities while minimizing risk.
E1 has acquired several films for distribution in France including the French-Canadian thriller, “7 Days” (Les 7 jours du talion); “Dorian Gray” starring Colin Firth and Ben Barnes; “Love Ranch” featuring Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci and Brian Cranston, and “$5 a Day” starring Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone. Television titles to be released soon on DVD include E1’s own productions CBS show “The Bridge”, ABC series “Copper” and Syfy series “Haven.”
“The initial list of titles for release in France is an excellent snap-shot of the quality programming available through our extensive film, TV and children offering,” said Theroux. “In France, we will offer content through numerous channels with E1 International Television overseeing sales to international digital outlets and local television networks and E1-branded DVD titles being released through Aventi Distribution. This approach, like the one we recently announced in Australia and New Zealand, allows us to acquire rights on a larger scale and distribute across multiple formats including DVD, TV and digital into an expanded list of territories.”
Since its formation in 2003, Aventi Distribution has grown rapidly to become a major independent distributor of home entertainment content in France. Aventi manages the exclusive distribution of approximately 3,000 titles and has successfully built strong relationships with independent publishers and its customers.
Aventi exclusively distributes the catalogues of key entertainment enterprises such as BAC Films, M6 Video (SND), Opening, CTV etc. With sales team of 15, the company has more than 3,000 live customer accounts that include Auchan, Carrefour, Casino, Fnac, Leclerc, Media Saturn, Virgin and Amazon.
Richard Lechartier of Aventi stated: “I am delighted that Aventi will be the E1’s home entertainment distribution partner in France. In recent years E1 has been acquiring some major titles, not only becoming a key player the home entertainment category, but in the overall global filmed entertainment industry. The team and I are very excited about bringing E1’s exciting catalogue to the French market and we look forward to developing a lasting and successful relationship.”
Note: This story also appeared in The Hollywood Reporter.
E1 Entertainment advances into France
TV, digital content and DVD titles to be distributed
By: Etan Vlessing
Date: April 8th, 2010
Source:
TORONTO — Canadian distributor E1 Entertainment has opened a beachhead in France by signing Aventi Distribution to release its DVD titles, while its E1 International Television unit will market TV and digital content locally.
The move, following a similar expansion in Australia and New Zealand, comes as E1 and Canadian rival Alliance Films look beyond a mature home market to Europe to build out a multi-territory distribution network (HR, Feb. 23).
E1 already has distribution units in the U.K. and the Benelux.
The first E1 releases into France, starting in July 2010, include the Canadian French-language thriller “Les 7 jours du talion,” “Dorian Gray,” starring Colin Firth and Ben Barnes, “Love Ranch,” featuring Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci and Brian Cranston, and “$5 a Day,” with Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone.
DVD titles from E1 Entertainment’s TV slate bound for France include the CTV cop drama “The Bridge”, also picked up by CBS, the upcoming summer Global/ABC cop drama “Rookie Blue” and Syfy’s “Haven.”
Note: This story also appeared in Variety.
Canada’s E1 expands into France
It will distribute pics and TV shows for home entertainment
By: Brendan Kelly
Date: April 9th, 2010
Source: Variety
MONTREAL — Hot on the heels of the announcement earlier this week that it is entering the U.S. theatrical market, Canuck film company E1 Entertainment is expanding into the home entertainment market in France.
Toronto-based E1 has acquired several pics for distribution including French-language Canuck thriller “7 Days,” “Dorian Gray” toplining Colin Firth, “Love Ranch” (the company’s first U.S. release) with Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci, and “$5 a Day” starring Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone. TV shows to be released on DVD include E1 production “The Bridge” (on CBS in the U.S.), ABC series “Copper” and Syfy series “Haven.”
“The initial list of titles for release in France is an excellent snap-shot of the quality programming available through our extensive film, TV and children offering,” E1 prexy of filmed entertainment Patrice Theroux said on Thursday. “In France, we will offer content through numerous channels with E1 Intl. Television overseeing sales to international digital outlets and local TV networks and E1-branded DVDs being released through Aventi Distribution.”
Aventi exclusively distributes the catalogs of a number of companies, including BAC Films, M6 Video, Opening and CTV.
The move into France greatly expands E1’s reach in Europe. It already distributes in all media, including theatrical, in the U.K. via its subsidiary E1 U.K., and it also distributes in Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg via E1 Benelux, a company it formed after buying the Amsterdam-based distributor RVC.
It has also moved into the distribution biz in Australia and New Zealand, where it is releasing titles in conjunction with Beyond Home Entertainment.