Lions Gate, IFC, Showtime hot for 'Fahrenheit'
Trio hot for 'Fahrenheit'
June 2, 2004
NEW YORK -- Michael Moore's incendiary documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11," which had been looking for an American distributor, has found not one but three distribution entities eager to share in the movie's theatrical release.
The film is set to launch theatrically June 25 through a complicated distribution apparatus that will see Bob and Harvey Weinstein's newly formed Fellowship Adventure Group join forces with Lions Gate Films and IFC Films.
Showtime is taking pay-TV rights to "Fahrenheit" through its output deal with Lions Gate. The film's home entertainment rights have not yet been sewn up, though one source close to the film said that they could land with Universal Home Video.
Although plans have not yet been finalized -- and summer screens can be hard to come by -- "Fahrenheit" is expected to roll out on about 1,000 screens, sources said.
The partners all declined comment on how the film's fees will be split.
According to a release issued Tuesday, the Weinsteins' Fellowship will "personally finance and control distribution and marketing" of the film, with Lions Gate and IFC executing those plans. The Weinsteins have further appointed consultant and former Miramax staffer Matthew Cohen as marketing director for their new entity to create and oversee all marketing materials."
Sources said that "Fahrenheit," whose rights cost the Weinsteins about $6 million, will have an initial P&A commitment of $10 million.
The Weinsteins recently finalized a pact with Miramax Films parent Walt Disney Co. to buy all rights to "Fahrenheit" back from Disney after its chairman Michael Eisner had earlier ruled that he would not allow Miramax to handle the film (HR 6/1).
Said Moore of the film's distribution plans -- with a nod to another filmic, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring": "With Frodo (Harvey) and Sam (Bob) now in charge of the Fellowship, I welcome the addition of Lions Gate and IFC to our quest in bringing good family entertainment to the viewing public. (Lions Gate Entertainment CEO) Jon Feltheimer produced my series 'TV Nation,' and IFC produced my series 'The Awful Truth.' Not only am I in good hands, I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so -- thanks to the record number of screens on which they plan to open it. On behalf of my stellar cast -- GW, Dick, Rummy, Condi and Wolfie -- we thank this incredible coalition of the willing for bringing 'Fahrenheit 9/11' to the people."
The Weinsteins said in a statement: "This is a true coalition. The passion that Lions Gate, IFC Films and Showtime have demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed by as many filmgoers as possible as soon as possible."
While Lions Gate had long been considered a front-runner to distribute Moore's film because of the company's previous relationship with the Weinsteins -- Lions Gate has rolled out such too-hot-to-handle Miramax fare as Kevin Smith's "Dogma" -- IFC emerged as a dark horse in the "Fahrenheit" theatrical race. Sources close to the film had previously indicated that units including Newmarket Films, Focus Features and ThinkFilm had all been in discussions at various times.
However, through its cable net, IFC has been doing business with the Weinsteins for years, and its theatrical division has had success in growing grassroots movements for such films as "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." The company also has a strong New York presence, while Lions Gate is based in Los Angeles.
Some sources also speculated Tuesday night that the Weinsteins could also be laying the groundwork to develop a further relationship with IFC parent Rainbow Media Enterprises, which is slated to be spun off by New York-based Cablevision Systems this year. The revamped RME will include the Voom satellite TV division, other cable nets including AMC and the Clearview Cinemas theater chain. The Weinsteins have expressed an interest in developing a Miramax cable presence, and the nascent Voom division also is seeking content packages.
The Weinsteins also indicated that they aren't finished bringing partners aboard "Fahrenheit" and that further names would be added, possibly in a bid to pack a more potent political punch. In addition, by bringing other corporations aboard -- like Viacom, which owns Showtime, and, possibly, NBC Universal, parent of Universal Home Video -- the move could give the Weinsteins the added satisfaction of making Disney look timid.
Said Feltheimer, "Michael Moore is a brilliant creative talent, and we are honored to handle his latest film."
Said IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring, "Everyone at IFC Films is thrilled to be working again with Michael Moore ... one of the most important voices speaking today."
Lions Gate has no releases planned for the summer, while IFC has another docu waiting in the wings in its acquisition "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster."
Paris-based sales agent Wild Bunch will continue to handle "Fahrenheit's" international distribution rights deals.
In presenting his film at last month's Festival de Cannes, where it won the Palme d'Or, Moore expressed his hope that "Fahrenheit" would hit theaters by the Fourth of July holiday weekend and subsequently be available on home video/DVD by the fall in order to impact the November presidential election.
The film is set to launch theatrically June 25 through a complicated distribution apparatus that will see Bob and Harvey Weinstein's newly formed Fellowship Adventure Group join forces with Lions Gate Films and IFC Films.
Showtime is taking pay-TV rights to "Fahrenheit" through its output deal with Lions Gate. The film's home entertainment rights have not yet been sewn up, though one source close to the film said that they could land with Universal Home Video.
Although plans have not yet been finalized -- and summer screens can be hard to come by -- "Fahrenheit" is expected to roll out on about 1,000 screens, sources said.
The partners all declined comment on how the film's fees will be split.
According to a release issued Tuesday, the Weinsteins' Fellowship will "personally finance and control distribution and marketing" of the film, with Lions Gate and IFC executing those plans. The Weinsteins have further appointed consultant and former Miramax staffer Matthew Cohen as marketing director for their new entity to create and oversee all marketing materials."
Sources said that "Fahrenheit," whose rights cost the Weinsteins about $6 million, will have an initial P&A commitment of $10 million.
The Weinsteins recently finalized a pact with Miramax Films parent Walt Disney Co. to buy all rights to "Fahrenheit" back from Disney after its chairman Michael Eisner had earlier ruled that he would not allow Miramax to handle the film (HR 6/1).
Said Moore of the film's distribution plans -- with a nod to another filmic, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring": "With Frodo (Harvey) and Sam (Bob) now in charge of the Fellowship, I welcome the addition of Lions Gate and IFC to our quest in bringing good family entertainment to the viewing public. (Lions Gate Entertainment CEO) Jon Feltheimer produced my series 'TV Nation,' and IFC produced my series 'The Awful Truth.' Not only am I in good hands, I am grateful to them now that everyone who wants to see it will now have the chance to do so -- thanks to the record number of screens on which they plan to open it. On behalf of my stellar cast -- GW, Dick, Rummy, Condi and Wolfie -- we thank this incredible coalition of the willing for bringing 'Fahrenheit 9/11' to the people."
The Weinsteins said in a statement: "This is a true coalition. The passion that Lions Gate, IFC Films and Showtime have demonstrated reflects our desire to enable Michael Moore's extraordinary work to be viewed by as many filmgoers as possible as soon as possible."
While Lions Gate had long been considered a front-runner to distribute Moore's film because of the company's previous relationship with the Weinsteins -- Lions Gate has rolled out such too-hot-to-handle Miramax fare as Kevin Smith's "Dogma" -- IFC emerged as a dark horse in the "Fahrenheit" theatrical race. Sources close to the film had previously indicated that units including Newmarket Films, Focus Features and ThinkFilm had all been in discussions at various times.
However, through its cable net, IFC has been doing business with the Weinsteins for years, and its theatrical division has had success in growing grassroots movements for such films as "Y Tu Mama Tambien" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." The company also has a strong New York presence, while Lions Gate is based in Los Angeles.
Some sources also speculated Tuesday night that the Weinsteins could also be laying the groundwork to develop a further relationship with IFC parent Rainbow Media Enterprises, which is slated to be spun off by New York-based Cablevision Systems this year. The revamped RME will include the Voom satellite TV division, other cable nets including AMC and the Clearview Cinemas theater chain. The Weinsteins have expressed an interest in developing a Miramax cable presence, and the nascent Voom division also is seeking content packages.
The Weinsteins also indicated that they aren't finished bringing partners aboard "Fahrenheit" and that further names would be added, possibly in a bid to pack a more potent political punch. In addition, by bringing other corporations aboard -- like Viacom, which owns Showtime, and, possibly, NBC Universal, parent of Universal Home Video -- the move could give the Weinsteins the added satisfaction of making Disney look timid.
Said Feltheimer, "Michael Moore is a brilliant creative talent, and we are honored to handle his latest film."
Said IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring, "Everyone at IFC Films is thrilled to be working again with Michael Moore ... one of the most important voices speaking today."
Lions Gate has no releases planned for the summer, while IFC has another docu waiting in the wings in its acquisition "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster."
Paris-based sales agent Wild Bunch will continue to handle "Fahrenheit's" international distribution rights deals.
In presenting his film at last month's Festival de Cannes, where it won the Palme d'Or, Moore expressed his hope that "Fahrenheit" would hit theaters by the Fourth of July holiday weekend and subsequently be available on home video/DVD by the fall in order to impact the November presidential election.
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