PALISADES MEDIA CORP ACQUIRES THE MAJORITY OF TARTAN FILMS’ UK LIBRARY ASSETS
Not long after purchasing Tartan’s US library of world-renowned and often controversial feature-length independent films, Palisades Media now owns the majority of the illustrious parent company’s film library assets as well, as was announced today by Palisades co-manager Kevin Burns.
Established over a quarter of a century ago in the UK, Tartan Films and Video was the longest-running and leading independent UK DVD & Blu-ray distributor in the world. Known for its diverse range of intelligent and cutting-edge films, Tartan’s critical and commercial successes included BLACK BOOK, FAST FOOD NATION, THE DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU, THE PROPOSITION, SECRETARY, MYSTERIOUS SKIN, and many more. The library also features Tartan’s “Asia Extreme©” line of horror films, some of the best and most twisted cinema from the Far East, including such cult favorites as the 2004 Cannes Grand Jury Prize Winner OLDBOY and Kinji Fukasaku’s incomparable BATTLE ROYALE.
“There’s no denying Hamish McAlpine (former owner of Tartan Films) had a brilliant eye for cinema. He amassed and distributed an extraordinary amount of thought-provoking and avant-garde films in three continents no less, and exposed audiences world-wide to some really remarkable and astonishing work,” said Burns. “We are thrilled to own the rights to the majority of both Tartan libraries and look forward to giving these films the kind of treatment they deserve and the attention that fans of independent cinema will truly appreciate.”
Palisades hopes to start releasing new titles this winter in the US beginning with a host of Asia Extreme titles. The next month will feature a diverse slate of independent films. Boxsets, 2-packs and blu-rays are also in the works. All upcoming UK releases are still TBD.
ABOUT PALISADES PICTURES
Palisades Pictures was founded more then a decade ago as a production and film finishing-funds company with the mission to empower, both financially and creatively, independent distributors and filmmakers to reach the widest possible audience with their films. In 2002, under the guidance of Vincent Roberti, Palisades Pictures financed its first theatrical P&A campaign for MORVERN CALLAR. Since being named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2003, Mr. Roberti transformed Palisades Pictures’ focus to Print & Advertising financing. From film studios (THINKFilms, Magnolia Pictures, First Look and Wellspring) to cable channels (HBO / Cinemax TV and The Sundance Channel), Palisades has quickly amassed a vast and impressive list of entertainment clientele. Notable films include TEN BENNY and RESTAURANT, both starring Adrien Brody prior to his Academy Award-winning performance in THE PIANIST; the powerful drama CHRYSTAL, starring Billy Bob Thornton; and SCHIZO, a stark and powerfully moving coming-of-age tale set in Kazakhstan.
