Lions Gate Films Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights for David LaChapelle's 'RIZE'

Lions Gate Films Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights for David LaChapelle's 'RIZE'

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lions Gate Films, the motion picture acquisition, production and distribution arm of Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF; TSX), has acquired the worldwide rights to RIZE, internationally renowned photographer / music video and commercial director, David LaChapelle's much buzzed about feature film debut, it was announced today by Tom Ortenberg, President of Lions Gate Films Releasing and Peter Block, President of Acquisitions, Television and Co-Productions.

RIZE reveals a groundbreaking dance phenomenon, "Krumping," that's exploding on the streets of South Central, Los Angeles. Taking advantage of unprecedented access, this documentary film brings to first light a revolutionary form of artistic expression borne from oppression. The aggressive and visually stunning dance modernizes moves indigenous to African tribal rituals and features mind-blowing, athletic movement never before seen in dance. RIZE grew out of LaChapelle's acclaimed short "Krumped" which played in the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. The feature film made its world premiere on January 21st to a standing room only crowd and received a 10 minute standing ovation at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

"A dynamic combination of music and dance, RIZE brings a heretofore unknown culture to the screen," said Tom Ortenberg, President of Lions Gate Films Releasing. "We were dazzled by its beauty and energy and look forward to introducing RIZE to audiences around the world."

David LaChapelle stated, "I am thrilled. After much thought and consideration, Lions Gate is my first choice to distribute and be a home for my film RIZE. I would also like to thank all of the companies I met with for their understanding, enthusiasm and passion that they showed for RIZE."

The deal was negotiated for Lions Gate by Block, John Hegeman, President of World Wide Marketing, Jason Constantine, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Ortenberg. For David LaChapelle, negotiations were handled by CAA, Irwin Rappaport and Fred Torres of Lucid Shoot Productions.

Like "Paris is Burning" or "Style Wars" before it, RIZE illuminates an entire community by focusing on an art form as a movement that the disenfranchised have created and the true stars of the film are the dancers themselves: surrounded by drug addiction, gang activity, and poverty, they have managed to somehow rise above. RIZE offers an intimate, completely fresh portrayal that's dynamic and up lifting as well as being the most exciting musical dance film to come along in a generation.

Lions Gate Entertainment is the premier independent producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of approximately 8000 titles is one of the largest in the entertainment industry. The Lions Gate brand name is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

For further information, please contact: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, sgreenberg@lgf.com, or Russell Nelson, +1-310-255-3858, rnelson@lgf.com, both of Lions Gate.

www.lgf.com


Source: Lions Gate Entertainment

CONTACT: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, sgreenberg@lgf.com, or
Russell Nelson, +1-310-255-3858, rnelson@lgf.com, both of Lions Gate

Web site: http://www.lgf.com/


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