By Ray Pride Pride@moviecitynews.com
SCREEN MEDIA FILMS AND FOCUS WORLD ACQUIRE ADVENTURE COMEDY A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING, STARRING KODI SMIT-McPHEE, BEN KINGSLEY
New York, August 27, 2013 – Focus World, the alternative distribution initiative owned and operated by Focus Features, and Screen Media Films have partnered for a third time on U.S. distribution rights to a feature film, acquiring the U.S. rights to A Birder’s Guide to Everything, which made its debut at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival and was a crowd favorite. Focus World and Screen Media will release the film on digital platforms and in theaters for the spring of 2014.
David Portnoy (Kodi Smit-McPhee of Let Me In and Focus’ ParaNorman), a 15-year-old birding fanatic, embarks on an epic road trip with a ragtag crew that includes a legendary ornithologist (Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley) to solidify a place in birding history. A Birder’s Guide to Everything marks the feature directorial debut of Rob Meyer and is written by Academy Award winner Luke Matheny and Mr. Meyer. Also in the cast are Katie Chang (The Bling Ring) and Spirit Award nominee James Le Gros.
The deal was closed for Screen Media by Suzanne Blech, President, and Seth Needle, Director of Marketing and Acquisitions; for Focus by Avy Eschenasy, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning, Business Affairs and Acquisitions, and Kent Sanderson, Director, Alternative Content & Distribution; and for the filmmakers by Cinetic Media.
Screen Media and Focus World are also partnered on U.S. distribution of Liz W. Garcia’s The Lifeguard, starring Kristen Bell, and Kyle Patrick Alvarez’s C.O.G., starring Jonathan Groff, for release in theaters and on digital platforms in, respectively, the summer and the fall of 2013.
Ms. Blech said, “We’re excited to partner with Focus World again, bringing a wonderful and engaging movie to audiences nationwide. The filmmakers have created a uniquely appealing coming-of-age story that will register with all audiences.”
About Focus World
Launched in 2011, Focus World (www.focusfeatures.com/
Focus Features is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
About Screen Media
Screen Media Ventures, LLC, a leading global independent motion picture distribution company with a broad distribution network that includes US and international theatrical, home video, television, cable and new media distribution, with one of the largest independently owned motion picture libraries in the world. In 2011, Screen Media launched its wholly-owned ad-supported streaming channel Popcornflix, which is now available in multiple international territories and soon to expand worldwide. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in New York City. For more information, visitwww.screenmedia.net.
# # #