Press release from Drummond Communications
All Interactive Distribution (AID) announces the launch of its new acquisitions and distribution company, Pinnacle Films. Richard Sheffield has been appointed Head of Film, Australia and New Zealand.
Owned and financed by AID, Pinnacle Films will operate as an independent company based out of AID Gold Coast offices. AID is an Australian wholesale distributor that supplies a comprehensive range of DVDs and computer games from the major publishers and studios. Established in 1994, AID currently employs 160 staff and operates out of a purpose built distribution centre located on the Gold Coast.
Sheffield recently relocated from Sydney to the Gold Coast to assume his new role with Pinnacle Films;
“I’m enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead for our new company. We anticipate the acquisition and distribution of between 6-8 theatrical films per year that will include 1-2 Australian film projects.
Our first theatrical films will include Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Directed by Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club), and The Reef, an Australian feature, Written/Directed by Andrew Traucki (Black Water). Both films are scheduled for release 1st quarter, 2011.”
For the past 3 years, AID’s sister company, All Interactive Entertainment, (AIE) has acquired and distributed a range of direct to DVD titles in Australia and New Zealand.
AIE will now focus solely on computer game acquisitions and sales, with all future film projects falling under the banner of Pinnacle Films.
“We will continue to release titles direct to DVD, however the primary focus of Pinnacle Films is to be recognised as a distribution company for theatrical releases, said Sheffield.”
AID Managing Director, Sherard Kingston, is delighted to have Sheffield heading up Pinnacle Films; “As an experienced and well-regarded industry professional I feel confident in Richard’s ability to create a dynamic and successful film acquisitions and distribution business in Australia and New Zealand.”
Sheffield has spent the majority of his career working in the film industry. For the past 10 years he has run his own business, Polyphony Entertainment, working in distribution and production in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to that Sheffield was MD of Universal International Australia and New Zealand, MD of Polygram Filmed Entertainment, and was also instrumental in establishing a film distribution division within the Becker Organisation.