Lions Gate Films Sweet on Worldwide Distribution Rights for 'HARD CANDY'

Lions Gate Films Sweet on Worldwide Distribution Rights for 'HARD CANDY'

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 (except U.K., Spain, Australia) to the provocative psychological thriller HARD CANDY it was announced today by Peter Block, President of Acquisitions, Television and Co-Productions, Tom Ortenberg, President of Lions Gate Films Releasing, and Nick Meyer, President of Lions Gate Films International.

A risky game of cat and mouse between a teenage girl and an older man, where the tables are turned with shocking results HARD CANDY stars Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page. It is directed by David Slade and written by Brian Nelson. The film is produced by David Higgins, Richard Hutton and Michael Caldwell and executive produced by Jody Patton and Rosanne Korenberg. It is the latest film produced by Vulcan Productions (FAR FROM HEAVEN, TITUS) in association with Launchpad Productions.

The deal was negotiated for Lions Gate by Block, Meyer, Jason Constantine, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Ortenberg. For Vulcan Productions, negotiations were handled by Doug Stone and Rosanne Korenberg of Traction Media in association with Cassian Elwes and Rena Ronson of William Morris Independents.

"Anchored by two great performances, HARD CANDY captured our attention as a stylish provocative psychological thriller," said Tom Ortenberg, President of Lions Gate Films Releasing. "David Slade presents himself as a major new talent with this forceful first feature."

"I am so proud to be working with Lions Gate on the release of HARD CANDY," commented director David Slade. "This is a film that came to be because of a wonderful script by Brian Nelson and also the hard work and passion of the cast, crew and all of the film's producers, including Michael Caldwell and Richard Hutton at Vulcan Productions and David Higgins and Hans Ritter. Lions Gate came to us with the same amount of dedication and enthusiasm that went in to making this movie; HARD CANDY has found its perfect home."

Producer Richard Hutton and Vice President of Vulcan Productions stated, "We are thrilled our film HARD CANDY has found its distribution home with Lions Gate Films. We love their passion for the film. HARD CANDY could not have come together without the total commitment of the producers and executive producers, and could not have come to life without the tremendous strength, dedication and talent of cast and crew. Lions Gate fits right in."

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.

Vulcan Productions, founded in 1997 by Paul G. Allen, devotes itself exclusively to producing independent films of unique vision and artistic quality. With feature film projects such as FAR FROM HEAVEN, THE SAFETY OF OBJECTS, and documentaries such as THE BLUES, EVOLUTION, and BLACK SKY: THE RACE FOR SPACE, and BLACK SKY: WINNING THE X PRIZE, the company commits its talent and resources to creating films of substance and enduring significance. Through collaborative partnerships with established and emerging filmmakers, Vulcan Productions explores creative opportunities that result in engaging and inspirational storytelling. Learn more online at

www.lgf.com / www.vulcanproductions.com

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.


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.vulcanproductions.com/

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


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