Yari Film Group: Jumping into the fray

With "The Illusionist," the Yari Film Group not only pulled a rabbit out of a hat but also established itself as an up-and-coming force in the indie distribution arena. Neil Burger's tale of a love-struck magician, played by Edward Norton, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival under the auspices of producers Michael London and Bob Yari, among others. But when the producers could not strike a distribution deal to their liking, Yari decided to distribute the film himself. Utilizing Freestyle Releasing (which also had a solid indie hit with the upscale horror movie "An American Haunting") and with former Paramount Classics co-head David Dinerstein serving as consultant, Yari Film Group served up "Ilusionist" on Aug. 18 as savvy counterprogramming that ultimately grossed nearly $40 million.