PRESS RELEASE
SBS has today announced a co-distribution venture with Madman Entertainment, which will see the acquisition of six films distributed jointly across Australia and New Zealand over the next two years in a return for SBS to cinema screens.
The joint venture will see Madman and SBS acquire and co-distribute quality-end film, including international film, across Australia and New Zealand, with cross-promotion across all SBS channels and platforms. The chosen films will later be available on SBS channels including SBS ONE, SBS 2 and SBS’s subscription television channel World Movies.
Head of SBS Distribution Leon Coningham: “SBS has long been known as the go to place for independent and international film and we are excited to be joining forces with Madman Entertainment on this exciting venture. Together with Madman, we look forward to building a sustainable, profitable business that will place SBS at the heart of this passion community.”
Danish box-office hit The Keeper of Lost Causes will be the first film released as part of the co-distribution venture in July. The crime thriller is the first in a series based on Jussi Alder-Olsen’s Department Q bestsellers, and has grossed close to $8 million at the Danish box office to date.
With the same thrilling formula that shot Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy to the top of international box-office, The Keeper Of Lost Causes tells the story of chief detective Carl Mørck and his assistant Assad who become involved in a five-year-old case concerning the mystery of politician Merete Lynggaard's disappearance – a journey that takes them deep into the undercurrent of abuse and malice that lurks beneath the polished surface of Scandinavia.
“Madman are proud of our long standing relationship with SBS, having worked as the home entertainment partner for more than nine years. The film Keeper of Lost Causes is an ideal first step into partnering in all rights management with strong revenue prospects across all distribution channels,” said Madman Entertainment Managing Director Paul Wiegard.
Madman is a leading independent film and television distribution and rights management company, with offices in Australia and New Zealand. Madman is renowned for its commitment to quality Australian and foreign film, factual content, as well as highly collectable categories such as Japanese anime, genre film, animation and cult television. Madman's capabilities encompass end to end acquisition, marketing, creative, sales and distribution in all mediums and formats, from the silver screen to the digital realm. Madman is also a proud producer of Australian film and television content. Put simply, Madman is mad for entertainment.
The Keeper of Lost Causes will release in Australian cinemas on 31 July 2014.