Santa Monica, U.S.A. — IMAX Corporation and Lionsgate, a leading diversified global entertainment company, announced that ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’, the second film in the wildly popular franchise, will be released in the immersive IMAX format.

The first Hunger Games film just crossed the $400 million mark at the North American box office, making it the 14th highest-grossing film of all time. The film has grossed nearly $650 million worldwide, with a rollout in China (including 67 IMAX screens) later this month.

Helping to further eventize this cultural phenomenon and transport moviegoers into the world of Panem, director Francis Lawrence will utilize IMAX cameras in filming portions of ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’. Exclusively in IMAX theatres, sequences shot with the extremely high-resolution cameras will expand to fill the entire screen with unprecedented crispness and clarity, putting moviegoers right into the action alongside Katniss and her fellow Tributes. Leading the cast is Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence, reprising her role as Katniss Everdeen, along with fellow returning cast members Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne and Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark.

“We are thrilled to continue the productive partnership we enjoyed with IMAX on the first installment of ‘The Hunger Games’,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. “Our partnership on the first Hunger Games film was a resounding success, and we look forward to building on that experience with an expanded IMAX relationship on Catching Fire. IMAX delivers a unique and memorable experience that is the perfect way to celebrate this special moviegoing event.”

“Beyond the global phenomenon that was ‘The Hunger Games’, the film resonated exceptionally with IMAX fans, resulting in sell outs across the network during the limited IMAX run,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We are excited to expand our partnership with directorFrancis Lawrence, producers Nina Jacobson and Jon Kilik and the Lionsgate team as Catching Fire joins a select group of blockbuster titles that have filmed with IMAX cameras, elevating the property to the next level.”

The IMAX release of ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with proprietary IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ is based on the second book in Suzanne Collins’ bestselling series. It chronicles the life of Katniss Everdeen after she emerges from the 74th Annual Hunger Games victorious — but far from safe. Even as she becomes an unwitting symbol of the rebellion mounting in the districts, Katniss never loses sight of her commitment to protect her family. ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producerJon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.

Image Courtesy of The Hunger Games

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Santa Monica, U.S.A. – Lionsgate and its Grindstone Entertainment Group and Emmett/Furla Films, a prolific producer of filmed entertainment featuring some of the leading actors and filmmakers in the industry, have renewed their slate deal for another 10 films and expanded their overall relationship, the companies recently announced.

The Grindstone collaboration with Emmett/Furla and Cheetah Vision has generated a string of successful features starring notable A list actors, including: the thriller ‘Set up’, starring Bruce Willis, Ryan Phillippe and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson; the crime drama ‘Freelancers’, starring Robert DeNiro and Forrest Whitaker; the high octane ‘Fire with fire’, starring Willis, Josh Duhamel, Rosario Dawson and Vincent D’Onofrio; and the serial killer thriller ‘The Frozen Ground’, starring Nicolas Cage and John Cusack. The next film slated for release from Grindstone’s partnership with Emmett/Furla is the crime thriller ‘Empire State’, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, ‘The Hunger Games’ Liam Hemsworth and Emma Roberts.

“Grindstone has been an important supplier of content for our filmed entertainment business in recent years, and their pipeline of commercially exciting, quality films from Emmett/Furla has been a key element of their success,” said Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President Steve Beeks. “Grindstone’s partnership with Emmett/Furla is based on successful film distribution models that have achieved a consistent level of profitability and established Grindstone as an important brand in filmed entertainment.”

“Our partnership with Emmett/Furla is on a roll, and we’re delighted to extend our agreement for another 10 films,” said Grindstone President Barry Brooker. “Randall Emmett and George Furla are among the most prolific producers of films in the world today, and they combine a strong financial sensibility and a natural eye for great filmmaking. The Emmett/Furla name is recognizable among audiences worldwide as a reliable source of exciting and entertaining films and is trusted by our distribution partners as a brand that consistently meets expectations and delivers results.”

“We have partnered with the Lionsgate family on films for more than 10 years, and we’re thrilled to see our partnership continue to grow with their success,” said Emmett/Furla’s Randall Emmett and George Furla. “Lionsgate is one of the most exciting, innovative and entrepreneurial entertainment companies in the world, and we’re delighted to bring our longstanding relationship with Steve Beeks, Barry Brooker and the rest of the Lionsgate team to the next level.”

Emmett/Furla has partnered with Lionsgate on such theatrical films as ‘Rambo’, ‘Wonderland’, ‘Narc’ and ‘A love song for Bobby long’, and they are producing the action thriller ‘The tomb’, starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, for nationwide theatrical release by the Lionsgate family next year.

The deal was negotiated by Beeks for Lionsgate, Brooker and Stan Wertlieb for Grindstone and Emmett for Emmett/Furla.

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Lionsgate, the leading next generation studio, announced recently that it will partner with Crest Animation Studios to co-produce the Stereoscopic 3D animated family feature ‘Norm of the North’ as the second film in their three-picture deal. Lionsgate will distribute in North America. The announcement was jointly made by Joe Drake, Lionsgate Co-Chief Operating Officer and Motion Picture Group President; Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate President of Motion Picture Production; Ken Katsumoto, Lionsgate Executive Vice President of Family Entertainment; Noah Fogelson, CEO of Crest Animation Productions; and Seemha Ramanna, Managing Director Crest Animation Studios.

‘Norm of the North’ is written by Steven and Daniel Altiere. Delivery is anticipated for the first quarter of 2012. Katsumoto will oversee the production for Lionsgate; Crest Animation President of Production Richard Rich will oversee for Crest.

The first film in the Lionsgate/Crest partnership was last year’s CGI animated family feature ‘Alpha and Omega’, featuring the voices of Justin Long, Hayden Panetierre, Christina Ricci, Danny Glover, Dennis Hopper and Larry Miller. Directed by Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck, ‘Alpha and Omega’ premiered in October 2010.

Said Paseornek and Katsumoto, “Our partnership with Crest has gotten off to a terrific start with ‘Alpha and Omega’, and ‘Norm of the North’ is an ideal follow-up. In its range of characters, locations and narrative, ‘Norm of the North’ offers a bounty of riches for family audiences.”

“We are delighted to be producing ‘Norm of the North’ with our friends at Lionsgate,” commented Fogelson. “This is a wonderful story, full of humor and heart, and stereoscopic 3D technology will bring it vividly to life.”

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Wendy Jaffe, Executive Vice President Business & Legal Affairs, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Sean Kisker, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning, and Katsumoto; and for Crest Animation Productions by attorney Josh Grode of Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor LLP.

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California, U.S.A. – Lionsgate a leading diversified global entertainment company, announced that The Hunger Games, which has already grossed nearly $620 million at the worldwide box office, has been approved for release in China in the first half of June.

The film will be released nationwide in China with both dubbed and subtitled prints by The China Film Group in conjunction with Lionsgate’s promotional partner, Talent International.  The Hunger Games will be one of the first Hollywood studio films to be released in China under the new blockbuster revenue sharing agreement announced in February that allows Western distributors to collect up to 25% of a film’s receipts in China.

“The Hunger Games juggernaut continues to gain momentum around the world, and we’re thrilled that we can now share the exciting first installment of THE HUNGER GAMES franchise with Chinese moviegoers in June,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.  “China is already one of the leading territories at the international box office, and the launch of The Hunger Games in this key market is another sign of the franchise’s continuing emergence as a truly global phenomenon.”

The Hunger Games has already grossed more than $380 million at the North American box office where it ranks 13th among the highest-grossing films of all time.  It has grossed nearly $620 million worldwide with upcoming launches in China and Japan.

“We view China as an increasingly important market for our content in Asia,” said Wendy Reeds, Executive Vice President of Content Sales & Distribution for Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), Lionsgate’s venture with Saban Capital Group and Astro’s Celestial Pictures in Asia.  “The Chinese box office grew by more than 30% last year to over $2 billion, and The Hunger Games’ approval for nationwide release in China is a major step in translating the enormous commercial potential of this huge market into reality.”

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Lionsgate have announced ‘The Big Wedding’, a Nu Image / Millennium Films production that Lionsgate will be distributing in the U.S. and the U.K. The announcement was made jointly by Joe Drake, President of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, Jason Constantine, Lionsgate’s President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions, and Avi Lerner, Founder and Co-Chairman of Nu Image, who is handling international sales of the film.

The film, which boasts an all star cast including Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, Katherine Heigl, Amanda Seyfried, Robin Williams, Ben Barnes and Topher Grace, is currently shooting in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Written and directed by Justin Zackham (‘The Bucket List’), the film centers around Don (De Niro) and Ellie (Keaton), a long divorced couple being forced to pretend that they are still happily married at their son’s wedding. Among all of their family and friends, the hoax snowballs into a poignant and raucously funny story about the ties that bind.

Nu Image’s Avi Lerner, Danny Dimbort and Trevor Short are executive producing, with Justin Zackham, Clay Pecorin, Richard Salvatore and Harry Ufland producing.

“The Big Wedding is a charming, rollicking movie that promises to be an instant intergenerational family comedy classic,” explains Drake of the film’s appeal to the studio.  “We are thrilled to be in business once again with Avi and Nu Image,” adds Constantine.  “After our success together with action genre films like ‘The Expendables’ and the upcoming ‘Conan The Barbarian’, this film presented a wonderful opportunity to expand our collaborative horizons into the realm of broad comedy.”

“Our relationship with Lionsgate has always been mutually beneficial and one of great respect. A film like The Big Wedding only reinforces that idea and takes our relationship to the next level,” says Lerner. “We know that Lionsgate’s faith in us to deliver on all of the potential of this comedy is well placed.”

Negotiations on behalf of Lionsgate were overseen by Constantine along with Lionsgate’s SVP of Acquisitions Eda Kowan and EVP of Business & Legal Affairs Wendy Jaffe.

About Lionsgate 

Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms.

The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets.

Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as “Mad Men”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie” along with  the comedy “Blue Mountain State, ” the upcoming drama “Boss” and the syndication successes “Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne”, its spinoff “Meet The Browns”,  the upcoming “For Better or Worse,” ”The Wendy Williams Show” and “Are We There Yet?”.

Image Courtesy of   cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com

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Summit Entertainment, a Lionsgate company, has announced that the home entertainment release of the current installment in the studio’s blockbuster Twilight Saga film franchise, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 sold an estimated 3.2 million DVD and Blu-ray units during its first weekend of release.

DVD sales for the film, which became available at retail this past Saturday night at 12:01 a.m., are approximately 18% ahead of the opening weekend of the third film in the franchise, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, demonstrating continued demand and vibrancy of the Twilight Saga. The film also performed well via digital platforms notching approximately 50,000 Electronic Sell Through transactions, a 47% increase over its predecessor; and approximately 80,000 Video on Demand transactions, a 142% increase over Eclipse.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger stated, “The incredible fan support for the characters and story that author Stephenie Meyer has created never ceases to impress.  We thank all of the fans for continuing their journey with us beyond the big screen and look forward to bringing you Breaking Dawn Part 2 later this year.”

The home entertainment release plans surrounding The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 continue the franchise’s pattern of building community among fans by once again holding midnight opening weekend launch events at retailers including Target and Walmart.

The two nationwide retail chains each offered exclusive versions of the DVD’s contents and packaging. In comparison The Twilight Saga: Eclipse sold 2.7 million units on DVD and Blu-ray in its first weekend. The price point per unit for this release was higher than in past installments leading to increased revenue dollars related to the franchise.

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 has grossed over $700 million worldwide at the box office to date since its theatrical release on November 18, 2011.  The next chapter in The Twilight Saga, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 will come to theatres on November 16, 2012.

Academy Award winner Bill Condon directed both the first and second part of the two-part finale starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The project, based on the fourth novel in author Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, was written by Melissa Rosenberg with Wyck Godfrey, Karen Rosenfelt and Stephenie Meyer producing.

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Following Lionsgate’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment, the Company has named Summit’s Erik Feig, President, Production of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group.

Reporting to Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, Feig will oversee all aspects of development and production of films from both the Lionsgate and Summit labels.  Feig will work closely with Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions for Lionsgate, on co-productions and acquisitions that are intended for theatrical release.

In a joint statement, Friedman and Wachsberger said, “Erik has been instrumental to Summit’s success over the past decade and we look forward to continuing our relationship with him in this new chapter.  With his incredible eye for films with global appeal and his ever growing list of accomplishments, we are fortunate to have such a talented individual working on our team.”

“I am very excited to join Lionsgate, one of the most vibrant, entrepreneurial media companies in the business, at this dynamic time of growth,” said Feig.  “Jon Feltheimer and Michael Burns and the Lionsgate team have found enormous success in taking smart creative and business bets that support unique filmmaker voices and make financial sense as well.

With our combined slates, powerful franchises and innovative cultures, we are poised for even more success across a broad spectrum of audiences and genres.  I am also extremely happy to be continuing my tenure with Patrick Wachsberger and Rob Friedman, both of whom have been so influential to me as mentors and role models.”

Feig most recently served as President of Worldwide Production and Acquisitions at Summit where he oversaw all of Summit’s in-house productions, co-productions and acquisitions, as well as the company’s involvement with films of its client companies. The films and franchises developed and produced under his tenure include RED, KNOWING, SOURCE CODE, LETTERS TO JULIET, and each of the films in THE TWILIGHT SAGA franchise.

Critically hailed films developed, produced, or acquired by Feig include the multiple Academy Award winner THE HURT LOCKER, including Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow and Best Picture for Summit Entertainment, the recent Jonathan Levine film 50/50, and A BETTER LIFE starring Demian Bichir who is nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Actor for his performance in the film.

Feig began his career by packaging and producing the hit I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER films. He then went on to produce the teen comedy SLACKERS for Sony. During the late 1990s, he continued to develop projects for many of the major studios and networks, while operating under an overall producing deal with Artisan Entertainment, a then client of Summit.

Feig ran Summit’s production banner since 2007 and also became a partner in the company as it grew into a worldwide studio, earning executive producer and producer credits along the way on films as varied as MR. & MRS. SMITH; Paul Haggis’s IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH; and the films in the STEP UP series.

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The Lionsgate family of companies earned six Academy Award nominations from the Motion Picture Academy of Arts & Sciences as Summit Entertainment’s ‘A Better Life’ earned a Best Actor nomination for Demian Bichir, Lionsgate’s ‘Warrior’ earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Nick Nolte, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions’ ‘Margin Call’ earned a Best Original Screenplay nomination, and Roadside Attractions’ ‘Albert Nobbs’ received three nominations for Glenn Close as Best Actress, Janet McTeer for Best Supporting Actress, and an Oscar nod for Best Makeup.

Legendary actor, Nick Nolte, was nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his heart wrenching performance in ‘Warrior’, the inspirational action/drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (‘Miracle’). The film also stars Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy as brothers facing the fight of a lifetime.

Summit Entertainment’s ‘A Better Life’, from filmmaker Chris Weitz, received a nomination for Best Actor for Demian Bichir. The film is a poignant, multi-generational story about a father’s love and everything a parent will sacrifice to build a better life for his child.

‘Margin Call’ is a Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions film that was released in theaters with its VOD premiere. The taut financial industry thriller, which stars Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, and Zachary Quinto, struck a resonant chord in the popular zeitgeist and is considered a game-changer in the world of release strategies after its success in each of its release formats. Writer-director, J.C. Chandor, was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for his film.

“We are thrilled that the Academy has acknowledged these four incredible films within the Lionsgate family,” said Co-Chairs of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, adding, “Congratulations to the filmmakers.  We are incredibly proud of the respective teams at Lionsgate, Summit, and Roadside who made this happen.”

Glenn Close received a Best Actress nod for her performance as the titular character in ‘Albert Nobbs’, a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive in 19^th-century Ireland.  Janet McTeer was also acknowledged for her performance in the Best Supporting Actress category, with the film’s makeup also receiving a nomination.

“We couldn’t be prouder of ‘Albert Nobbs’ or happier that it was recognized by the Academy with its three well-deserved honors,” said Roadside Attractions co-presidents, Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, continuing, “We were thrilled to collaborate with Lionsgate on the timely ‘Margin Call’, which clearly resonated with Academy voters like it did with theatrical and VOD audiences.”

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

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Conan has been a well-recognized name throughout the genre of action, ranging from books to videogames.  First conceived in 1932 by writer Robert E. Howard, Conan quickly became an iconic figure in fantasy novels then evolved into comic books in the 1950s.

In the 1980s Conan attacked the big screen being played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.  Now after 30 years after the making of the original movies and more than 8 years in the making, Conan the Barbarian is back on screen as he fights to avenge his slaughtered tribe.

The focus of fan’s attention has turned to the next actor that will play Conan.  Many believe that Schwarzenegger’s shoes can never be filled when it comes to playing with Conan.

After a long seven-year stretch in the development stage, the director Marcus Nispel had found his Conan in Jason Momoa.  Jason Momoa was a model though he is more famous for his acting.  HBO’s recent series, Game of Thrones, featured Momoa as the barbarian king Khal Drogo.  This character is a Conan-esque character that Momoa plays skillfully. Based on his previous work, Momoa will definitely fit the shoes that Schwarzenegger left behind or at least give him a run for his money.

Conan’s father was to be played by Mickey Rourke, but he had left the project for Dawn of War due to how long Conan was stalled.  Instead, Ron Pearlman, mainly known for playing roles like Hellboy, and One in City Of Lost Children, will take the part of Conan’s father.

The director, Marcus Nispel has directed mostly horror movies, using a kind of grey and dark color to them.  Some titles he directed include The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13^th, and Frankenstein.  With such a gritty look to his movies, the movie seems to be turning down a really gory path.

Many of Nispel films are known to be gory.  So with a lot of action sequences in Conan, one can only imagine the amount of red dye that will be flying everywhere across the screen.  The grit, the blood and the harsh colors will give Conan a more horror feel than a straight action flick would have.

The movie has had many complications as it began developing.  The idea floated around Warner Brothers for a little more than seven years when Nu Image and Millennium Films obtained the rights in 2007.  Bringing on LionsGate to distribute the film along with a new revision of the script, Conan was finally beginning to take shape.

The principal photography began on March 15, 2010 and ended June 5, 2010.  With the film waiting to be release Conan fans are sure to want to catch the action, August 19^th.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/ConanTheBarbarian

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