News

CANNES (May 11, 2018) – Film acquisition and distribution company, Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Matthew Ross’s Siberia, starring Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, John Wick) and Ana Ularu (Inferno, Emerald City) with supporting performances from Golden Globe Nominee Molly Ringwald (“Riverdale”, Jem and the Holograms) and Pasha Lychnikoff (Ray Donovan, Shameless). The romantic crime-thriller was produced by Stephen Hamel (Passengers) and Reeves of Company Films, Gabriela Bacher of Summerstorm Entertainment/Film House Germany, Dave Hansen and Braden Aftergood. Penned by Scott B. Smith from a story by Hamel and Smith, Siberia follows Lucas Hill (Reeves), an American diamond trader who sells blue diamonds of dubious origin to buyers in Russia. As the deal quickly begins to disintegrate, he falls into an obsessive relationship with a Russian cafe owner (Ularu) in a small Siberian town while colliding with the treacherous world of the diamond trade. “Siberia is a fresh departure from your average love story, balancing the high-wire act of being a thriller with…

Read More →

CANNES (May 10, 2018) – Film acquisition and distribution company, Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Kristoffer Nyholm’s Keepers, starring Gerard Butler, Peter Mullan (“Top of the Lake”, Children of Men) and Connor Swindells. The thriller was produced by Andy Evans, Ade Shannon and Sean Marley for Mad As Birds Films, Butler and Alan Siegel for G-BASE, and Jason Seagraves and Maurice Fadida. Written by Joe Bone and Celyn Jones, and inspired by thea Flannan Isle mystery, Keepers tells the story of three lighthouse keepers arriving on a remote, uninhabited island for a six-week shift, who discover something potentially life-changing that isn’t theirs to keep. Soon the three are locked in a tense battle for survival, fed by isolation and paranoia, as personal greed replaces loyalty. “Gerard brings a charm and tact to the grittiness of this action-packed film,” said Saban Films CEO Bill Bromiley. “Keepers is full of tension, allure, and suspense. We absolutely love it.”  Phil Hunt and Compton Ross served…

Read More →

LOS ANGELES (February XX, 2018) – Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Brad Silberling’s (City of Angels) An Ordinary Man, starring Academy Award® Winner Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Hera Hilmar (upcoming Peter Jackson’s Mortal Engines). The war thriller was produced by Rick Dugdale for Enderby Entertainment, and Kingsley and Silberling. Saban Films is planning a theatrical release for Q2 2018.   Written by Silberling, An Ordinary Man follows a war criminal in hiding who forms a relationship with his only connection to the outside world - his maid.   “Sir Ben Kingsley is the epitome of class, boldness, and exalting talent,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “He has truly captivated us with An Ordinary Man.”   Daniel Petrie Jr. executive produced the film.  Ness Saban and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films.   Most recently, Saban Films acquired Craig William Macneill’s Lizzie, starring Academy Award® Nominee Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. The…

Read More →

LOS ANGELES (February XX, 2018) – Saban Films has acquired the North American rights to Ivan Kavanagh’s (The Canal) Never Grow Old, starring John Cusack (Love & Mercy, The Butler, High Fidelity) and Emile Hirsch (Lone Survivor, Milk, Into the Wild). The western drama was produced by Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright for Ripple World Pictures along with Nicolas Steil of the Iris Group and Jean-Michel Rey of Rezo Productions, who will distribute across French-speaking territories. The film is further supported by the Irish Film Board, Luxembourg Film Fund, Eurimages and the BAI with Cofiloisir providing cash-flow.  Initially launched by Metro International Entertainment at the 2017 AFM, and currently in post-production, Saban Films is planning a theatrical release for Q4 2018. Written by Kavanagh, Never Grow Old was developed by Ripple World Pictures with the assistance of the Irish Film Board and Creative Europe. When a ruthless gang of outlaws terrorise a sleepy frontier town, the local undertaker Patrick faces a profound moral dilemma. He…

Read More →

Roadside Attractions to Partner on Theatrical Release PARK CITY (January 25, 2018) – In a competitive situation, Saban Films has nabbed North American rights to Craig William Macneill’s Lizzie, starring Academy Award Nominee Chloë Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry) as the renowned accused murderess Lizzie Borden and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga).  The racy period drama, which just made its World Premiere In-Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, was produced by Sevigny, Naomi Despres and Liz Destro.  The film was executive produced by Elizabeth Stillwell, Roxanne Fie Anderson, and Edward J. Anderson of Powder Hound Pictures.  Saban Films is planning a theatrical release in partnership with Roadside Attractions this summer. Written by Bryce Kass and based on the unsolved, much-speculated-about murders of the Borden parents, Lizzie explores the inner workings of the Borden household leading up to the murders and their immediate aftermath and reveals many layers of the strange, fragile woman who stood accused of the brutal crime. As an unmarried woman of 32, Lizzie…

Read More →

LOS ANGELES (January 16, 2018) – Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Pasha Patriki’s Black Water, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme (Universal Soldier, Kickboxer), and Dolph Lundgren (The Expendables 2). The action thriller which marks the fifth collaboration between Van Damme and Lundgren, was produced by Jason Cherubini, Alexander Ferguson, Tyler W. Konney and Richard Switzer for Dawn’s Light Productions. Saban Films is planning a theatrical release in Q2 of 2018. Written by Chad Law, with a story by Law, Konney and Switzer, Black Water follows a deep cover operative who awakens to find himself imprisoned in a CIA black site on a submarine. With the help of a fellow prisoner and an amateur agent, Wheeler (Van Damme) must race against the clock to escape the vessel and expose who set him up. “Jean-Claude and Dolph are a powerhouse duo, it’s refreshing to see them fighting on the same side for a change,” said Saban Films’ Bill…

Read More →

LOS ANGELES (December 19, 2017) – Los Angeles-based film acquisition and distribution company Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Alexandre Moors’ The Yellow Birds, starring Tye Sheridan (Mud), Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!), Toni Collette (Little Miss Sunshine), Jason Patric (Speed 2: Cruise Control) with Jack Huston (American Hustle) and Jennifer Aniston (“Friends,” Office Christmas Party, Cake). The war drama, which made its World Premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize for Best Cinematography, was produced by Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton for Cinelou Films, and Jeff Sharp for Story Mining & Supply Company. Saban Films is planning a theatrical release in Spring 2018. Written by David Lowery and R.F.I. Porto, and based on the novel by Kevin Powers, The Yellow Birds follows two young soldiers, Bartle (Ehrenreich) and Murph (Sheridan), who navigate the terrors of the Iraq war under the command of the older, troubled Sergeant Sterling. All the while, Bartle is haunted by a promise he…

Read More →

CRIME THRILLER STARS JOHN HAWKES, ANTHONY ANDERSON, ROBERT FORSTER AND OCTAVIA SPENCER; WILL HAVE FOURTH QUARTER RELEASE IN THEATERS AND ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS LOS ANGELES – March 20, 2017 – Following the world premiere at SXSW, Saban Films and DIRECTV have acquired the North American rights to Small Town Crime, financed and developed by Avva pictures, which was written and directed by Eshom and Ian Nelms (Waffle Street, Night of the Dog, Lost on Purpose).  The film stars Academy Award® Nominee John Hawkes (Winter's Bone, American Gangster, The Sessions), Golden Globe® Nominee Anthony Anderson (“black-ish,” The Departed), Academy Award® Nominee Robert Forster (Jackie Brown, The Descendants), and Academy Award® Winner Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures, The Help). Small Town Crime follows ex-cop Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) who discovers the body of a young woman and, in an act of self-redemption, becomes hellbent on finding the killer. While his un-couth and quirky detective style helps break open the case, his dogged determination unwittingly puts his sister (Octavia Spencer) and best friend (Anthony Anderson) in…

Read More →

LOS ANGELES – April XX, 2017 – Saban Films has acquired North American distribution rights to Alexandros Avranas’ True Crimes starring Golden Globe Winner Jim Carrey and Charlotte Gainsbourg (Melancholia, Nymphomaniac: Vol. I).  RatPac Entertainment’s Brett Ratner and John Cheng, InterTitle Films’ David Gerson, Los Angeles Media Fund’s Jeffrey Soros, and Simon Horsman produced the crime thriller, which made its World Premiere at the Warsaw Film Festival and screened at the Berlin International Film Festival. Written by Jeremy Brock (The Last King of Scotland), True Crimes is based on a New Yorker article about the homicide investigation of a slain business man and the novelist eventually convicted of the murder. “Jim’s versatility as an actor is truly remarkable and one-of-a-kind. We look forward to working with him and the rest of the team behind True Crimes,” said Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley. “We are confident our audiences will engage with this gripping real-life account.” Ness Saban and Bill Bromiley negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban…

Read More →

LOS ANGELES – April XX, 2017 – Saban Films has acquired North American distribution rights to acclaimed director Ric Roman Waugh’s Shot Caller, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (“Game of Thrones”), Lake Bell (Man Up, No Escape, In a World...), Jon Bernthal (“The Punisher,” Sicario), Emory Cohen (Brooklyn, The Place Beyond the Pines), Omari Hardwick (“Power,” “Being Mary Jane”), and Benjamin Bratt (Despicable Me 2, “Law & Order,” Miss Congeniality). Written by Waugh, the crime drama follows a newly released prison gangster who is forced by the leaders of his gang to orchestrate a major crime with a brutal rival gang on the streets of Southern California. Saban Films’ Bill Bromiley said: “Shot Caller is raw, gritty, expertly crafted and perfectly cast.  We could not be more proud to partner with Bold Films and Participant Media to bring this important film to audiences across North America.” Participant Media’s Jonathan King added: “Participant values our ongoing relationship with Ric, and we hope that Shot Caller extends the conversations…

Read More →