Picturehouse Picks Up Robert Altman's 'A Prairie Home Companion'

Picturehouse Picks Up Robert Altman's 'A Prairie Home Companion'

Film Based on Garrison Keillor's Celebrated Radio Show Starring Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Kevin Kline, Tommy Lee Jones, Lindsey Lohan and More

NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Picturehouse has acquired all North American rights to Academy Award-nominated director Robert Altman's "A Prairie Home Companion," based on Garrison Keillor's legendary radio variety show and starring Keillor (as himself), with Academy Award-winners Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Tommy Lee Jones, Academy Award-nominees Lily Tomlin, John C. Reilly, Woody Harrelson, Virginia Madsen, "Saturday Night Live's" Maya Rudolph, and Lindsey Lohan it was announced today by Bob Berney, president of Picturehouse.

From a script penned by Keillor, "A Prairie Home Companion" was produced by Altman's Sandcastle 5 Productions and executive produced and co-financed by GreeneStreet Films and River Road Entertainment. Capitol Films is handling foreign sales.

A Prairie Home Companion" is a fictionalized account of Keillor's award-winning show, which currently runs on more than 558 public radio stations. The film follows the show's cast of characters preparing for the final live broadcast on the eve of being shut down after 30 years. As passions erupt, secrets emerge and a mysterious stranger lurks in the shadows, the vigilant stage manager must hold it all together since the "show must go on."

"With his signature style, Robert Altman has crafted a hilarious and endearing film," said Bob Berney. "'A Prairie Home Companion' is a masterfully-acted ensemble piece that captures the humor and heart of Garrison Keillor's radio show with great cinematic flair. Fans are in for a real treat when they see Meryl Streep and the cast belt out their favorite songs."

Begun in 1974 by Keillor and still running today, the radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" is part music, part comedy, part storytelling. The program is currently heard by more than four million listeners each week on more than 558 public radio stations and is heard abroad on the BBC, RTE (Ireland), Armed Forces Radio worldwide, and satellite and cable services across Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand reaching more than 35 million homes. Each week, Keillor tells homespun stories of Lake Wobegon, a fictional Midwestern town, interspersed with musical interludes.

The deal was brokered on behalf of Picturehouse by Ben Zinkin, Senior Executive VP Worldwide Business and Legal Affairs, New Line Cinema and Sara Rose, Senior VP Acquisitions at Picturehouse and negotiated on behalf of the film by Cinetic and CAA.

Attorney George Sheanshang played an instrumental role in the genesis of this film by introducing Altman and Keillor to one another and then brought the project to GreeneStreet.

River Road Entertainment is an integrated entertainment company whose principal business is the development and production of feature films and documentaries. River Road's current slate of films includes Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain," starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal and the Madonna documentary "I'm Going To Tell You A Secret." River Road projects currently in production or pre-production include "Fur, An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus," starring Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey, Jr., Brett Morgan's new documentary "C7," about the violent clash between activism and the establishment during the 1968 Democratic Convention, and Steven Soderbergh's "Che," starring Benicio del Toro as the controversial revolutionary.

GreeneStreet Films (GSF) is the NY based finance, development, production and sales outlet. Currently GSF is producing and co-financing with The Weinstein Company the thriller "Awake," starring Jessica Alba, Hayden Christensen and Terence Howard, written and directed by Joby Harold. It is now shooting in New York City. GreeneStreet is also shooting in New York Michael Ian Black's romantic comedy, "The Pleasure of Your Company," starring Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher.

This fall, GreeneStreet had two of its most recent productions in the Venice and Toronto Film Festivals. The musical "Romance & Cigarettes," written and directed by John Turturro, starring James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, and Kate Winslet had its world premiere in Venice and NA premiere in Toronto. "Slow Burn," starring Ray Liotta, LL Cool J, Mekhi Phifer, Taye Diggs and Chiwitel Ejiofor premiered in Toronto.

Launched in April 2005, Picturehouse is the joint venture of two leaders of the entertainment community -- HBO and New Line Cinema. Picturehouse currently has in release the critically acclaimed Israeli comedy by Gidi Dar, Ushpizin ("The Guests"). Upcoming films include Michael Winterbottom's "Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story" starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon and Jeremy Northam; Mary Harron's "The Notorious Bettie Page" starring Gretchen Mol; "Factotum" starring Matt Dillon and Lili Taylor; and Steven Shainberg's "Fur," which recently wrapped production and stars Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey, Jr.

For additional information contact:
Marian Koltai-Levine, Picturehouse -- 212.649.4829 - 914.672.2418 (cell)
Nina Baron, Picturehouse -- 212.649.6112
Vicky Eguia, Picturehouse - 310.246.7608

Source: Picturehouse

CONTACT: Marian Koltai-Levine, +1-212-649-4829, or cell,
+1-914-672-2418, or Nina Baron, +1-212-649-6112, or Vicky Eguia,
+1-310-246-7608, all of Picturehouse

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