Magnolia Launches New Genre Arm With DAI NIPPONJIN, BOARDING GATE, TRIANGLE and More!
Mmmm, very good news here that's been in the works for a long time. Magnolia Pictures have just announced the launch of Magnet Releasing a new genre focused arm. Among the initial five titles announced are current TIFF title Dai Nipponjin, the Johnny To / Ringo Lam / Tsui Hark action picture Triangle and Olivier Assayas' Boarding Gate.
Read on for the full press release!
Toronto, ON - Sept. 11, 2007 - Magnolia Pictures today announced the launch of Magnet (www.magnetreleasing.com), a new division of the unique and expanding film distribution business co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban. Specializing in the wild, unquantifiable and uncompromised, Magnet will provide an outlet for a different strand of films, which had previously been released alongside Magnolia's traditional specialties: independent dramatic features and award-winning documentaries.
Magnolia already has a robust history of releasing acclaimed "genre" titles such as THE HOST, EXILED, TEARS OF THE BLACK TIGER, SEVERANCE and ONG BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR; moving forward, Magnet will be home to productions and acquisitions that fit in this vein.
The first releases on Magnet's eclectic international slate define the type of unconventional, risk-taking genre fare it will showcase: Toronto Midnight Madness selection BIG MAN IN JAPAN (DAINIPPONJIN) by Hitoshi Matsumoto; Tony Smith's heavy metal Viking epic, SEVERED WAYS; action omnibus TRIANGLE created by the kings of Hong Kong cinema: Ringo Lam, Johnnie To, and Tsui Hark; Jeremy Saulnier's darkly comic, hipster slasher flick MURDER PARTY; Olivier Assayas's Cannes-selected thriller BOARDING GATE starring Asia Argento and Michael Madsen; and Mark
Hartley's expose on classic Australian genre filmmaking NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD, featuring Quentin Tarantino. Many more titles will be announced shortly.
"Some of the best, most imaginative, wild and forward-thinking cinema in the world today is being done in the context of genre filmmaking. The Magnet label will consolidate our track record with these rule-breaking films into a strong, identifiable brand," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles.
MURDER PARTY, the first film under the Magnet banner, will be released by Magnolia Home Entertainment on October 16. Other titles will see theatrical and DVD release beginning in early 2008.
"It's a kick-ass position to be in when you can look to your own company's films and know that these are the movies you'd want to buy for your personal DVD collection," added Tom Quinn, senior vice president of Magnolia Pictures. "It's been a standing question: how do we keep pushing the envelope and find our next ONG BAK, DISTRICT B13, or THE HOST? Launching something that isn't your dad's genre label was the answer."
