Sony Pictures Television International Acquires International Distribution Rights to More Than Just a Game From Distant Horizon

Sony Pictures Television International Acquires International Distribution Rights to More Than Just a Game From Distant Horizon

The FIFA-Supported Docu-Drama Follows the Inspiring Tale of Unjustly Imprisoned Victims of Apartheid

CULVER CITY, Calif., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) has acquired the international distribution rights to the feature length FIFA-supported docu-drama More Than Just A Game, from Distant Horizon. More Than Just A Game stars Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi) and tells the dramatic and little-known story of organized football played among prisoners on Robben Island in South Africa where Nobel Peace Prize Winner Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. The announcement was made today by Michael Grindon, president, SPTI, and Anant Singh, CEO of Distant Horizon.

Told through the stories of five former prisoners, More Than Just A Game follows the story of how political activists who were unjustly imprisoned on Robben Island in the 1960s rise above their incarceration by creating a football league, the Makana Football Association (Makana FA), and find an outlet for their passion and commitment to discipline through football.

This deal comes on the heels of Sony Corporation's global partnership deal with FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) that went into effect in January of this year. As a "FIFA Partner," the highest level of sponsorship status which is accorded to only six companies, Sony will be the official "Digital Life" sponsor of over 40 FIFA events, including the FIFA World Cup(TM) in South Africa in 2010 and the FIFA World Cup(TM) in 2014 due to be held in South America. SPTI is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA).

Grindon stated, "This is truly an inspirational story and we are pleased to be working with Distant Horizon to bring this amazing tale of hope to audiences around the world. We are also pleased to continue our association with FIFA, as they recently announced their support for the film and it is a timely acquisition for SPTI in light of the fact that the next FIFA World Cup is being held in South Africa."

Producer Anant Singh added, "We at Distant Horizon are thrilled to be working with Sony Pictures Television International on the international distribution of More Than Just A Game. The film has relevance not only to people in South Africa, but to people around the world. When considering this project, I felt that there was potential for this film because it is a story about human beings trying to succeed against all odds and to survive using football as their inspiration, which in everybody else's terms, was very simple. More Than Just A Game is a tribute to the people on Robben Island who fought for the privilege to play football."

"The Makana FA and Robben Island have great symbolic significance in FIFA's fight to eradicate racism and all forms of discrimination from football and society as a whole. We are very proud that, thanks to our Partner Sony, its subsidiary Sony Pictures Television International and producer Anant Singh have teamed up to distribute this unique docu-drama 'More than Just a Game' around the world. The film shows just how football can help to build a better future," commented FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter.

The movie's worldwide premiere is scheduled around the Preliminary Draw for the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) taking place in Durban, South Africa on 24 November 2007. The 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) will be held in South Africa from June 10 through July 11.

More Than Just A Game is a Distant Horizon production in association with Telkom Media and Distant Horizon, with script development supported by the National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa (NFVF). It is executive produced by Sudhir Pragjee and Sanjeev Singh and produced by Anant Singh and Helena Spring with Chuck Korr, Lord Ted Rowlands, Dave Crowe and Hannelie Bekker co-producing. The screenplay is by Tom Eaton and it is directed by Junaid Ahmed.

About Sony Pictures Television International

Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is the division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) responsible for all television business outside of the United States. SPTI operates three complementary lines of business: 1) distribution of SPE's feature films and television programming to television, mobile and digital content delivery outlets around the world, 2) local television production in key international markets, and 3) international television networks. In addition to being a leader in the distribution of current and classic U.S. and international films and television product worldwide, SPTI produces high profile, locally produced television in local languages. With dedicated offices in France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Miami (Latin America), the People's Republic of China, Russia, Spain and the United Kingdom, SPTI currently oversees production in nine regions of the world and is the leader in international television production among all major Hollywood studios. SPTI's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in the SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with over 40 networks in more than 130 countries reaching over 298 million viewers worldwide. SPTI is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

About Distant Horizon

Distant Horizon is an international production and distribution company which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the South African based, Videovision Entertainment. The company, which has a corporate presence in London, Los Angeles, the Far East and South Africa, produced "Yesterday," which was nominated for both an Academy Award and an Emmy Award in 2005. Its most recent title, "AmericanEast," is the first Arab-American film ever made and stars three-time Emmy winning star of "Monk" Tony Shalhoub and Kais Nashif, star of "Paradise Now." The company has been on the cutting edge of Asian entertainment since the early 90s. Its film "Black Mask" was the first Jet Li feature to be released theatrically in the U.S. The company was also responsible for bringing several Jackie Chan titles to the States, including "Police Story 1 & 2" and "Twin Dragons." It has distributed Ryuhei Kitamura's "Versus" worldwide and produced with MTV the music channel's version of Kim Tae-gyun's "Volcano High."

Distant Horizon is also known for its involvement in remake concepts. Anant Singh and Brian Cox were producers for Dimension Films' production of "Pulse," a remake of the Kiyoshi Kurosawa Japanese horror film, which was released in the summer of 2006. The company is currently in pre-production on a remake of Hideo Nakata's "Don't Look Up" with Hong Kong filmmaker Fruit Chan directing. "Don't Look Up" will begin lensing in the autumn of this year in Romania. With Rob Cohen as producing partner, the company is also developing a live action adaptation of the Japanese anime feature "Kite" and the brothers Javier and Jorge Aguilera of Mexico City will direct. In addition, Distant Horizon is currently in development on a remake of the Japanese horror film "The Neighbor Number 13," with Chris and Eddie Borey ("Open Grave") writing the screenplay.

   Contacts:    Global:                                   Global:   Ron Sato                                  Gabriella Alaimo Thomas   Sony Pictures Television                  Sony Pictures Television    International                             International   +1 310 244 4687                           +1 310 244 3538   ron_sato@spe.sony.com                     gabriella_alaimo@spe.sony.com    Europe:                                   South Africa:   Johanna Cassells                          Nilesh Singh   Sony Pictures Television                  Distant Horizon/Videovision    International                             Entertainment   +44 20 7533 1363                          +27 31 2046050   johanna_cassells@spe.sony.com             nilesh@videovision.co.za  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Sony Pictures Television International

CONTACT: Global, Ron Sato, +1-310-244-4687, ron_sato@spe.sony.com, or
Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, +1-310-244-3538, gabriella_alaimo@spe.sony.com, or
Europe, Johanna Cassells, +44 20 7533 1363, johanna_cassells@spe.sony.com, all
of Sony Pictures Television International; or South Africa, Nilesh Singh of
Distant Horizon-Videovision Entertainment, +27 31 2046050,
nilesh@videovision.co.za

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Profile: International Entertainment