Press release from Matt Norman
Odin’s Eye Entertainment has signed separate deals with Cinetic Media and Phase 4 for North American rights to award-winning documentary Salute, chronicling the story behind the iconic black power salute.
Cinetic is handling digital rights across all media platforms, while Phase 4 (formerly Peace Arch Home Entertainment) has home video rights. Odin’s Eye is also planning a limited North American theatrical release for the film in Feb 2010 to coincide with the Vancouver Winter Olympics and black history month.
Salute looks back to the 1968 Mexico City Olympics when medallists Tommie Smith and John Carlos gave the black power salute in solidarity with the civil rights movement in the US.
Produced by Wingman Pictures, the film is written and directed by Matt Norman, nephew of the third man on the podium, Australian sprinter Peter Norman, who supported the protest and was subsequently dropped from Australia’s Olympics team.
Salute was released in Australia by Paramount last year and became the high-grossing documentary of the year. Its also won awards at festivals including Santa Cruz, Rhode Island and Docufest Atlanta.
Odin’s Eye principal Michael Favelle negotiated the deals with Cinetic’s Steve Beckman and Phase 4’s Berry Meyerowitz.