Magnet Takes The World On Fantastic Fest Winner DOWN TERRACE

New York - January 12, 2009 - The Wagner/Cuban Companies' Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that it has acquired world rights to DOWN TERRACE, a genre bending portrait of a crime family slotted to play in Slamdance this month after being warmly received at Raindance, where it won the award for Best UK Feature, and Austin's Fantastic Fest, where it won Best Picture and Best Screenplay. The feature film debut of director Ben Wheatley, DOWN TERRACE was produced by Andrew Starke of Boum Productions, and executive produced by Baby Cow Films, Steve Coogan and Henry Normal's production company ("24 Hour Party People," "The Mighty Boosh"). Magnolia International will be representing the film internationally at the upcoming Slamdance, Rotterdam and Berlin Film Festivals.

 

Described in the press as "The Sopranos" if imagined by Mike Leigh or Ken Loach, DOWN TERRACE stars real life father and son Bob and Robin Hill as Bill and Karl, the heads of a crime family struggling to keep their business together as infighting and a police informant in their midst threaten to unravel it completely. Featuring stars of such beloved British TV shows as "Spaced," "The Office" and "Extras," the film is a pitch black comedy that alternates unexpectedly between shocking violence and realistic, even moving family drama.

 

"It's been a long time since I've seen a film as smart, clever and totally original as DOWN TERRACE," said Magnolia Senior Vice President Tom Quinn. "It's 'The Sopranos' meets 'Once' - there's really nothing else like it."

 

"I'm very excited about working with Magnolia. I feel a bit spoiled really," said director Wheatley. "Having your first film picked up by a company that has so many great films on its roster is very flattering."

 

The film will play the festival circuit this spring, with an anticipated theatrical release in the summer. The deal was negotiated by Magnolia's Senior Vice President Tom Quinn with producer Andrew Starke.