Starz Gets Five Exclusive Films From Yari Film Group

Starz Gets Five Exclusive Films From Yari Film Group

Deal Includes Films Starring Sissy Spacek, Forest Whitaker, Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger, Guy Pearce, Tim Roth, Jamie Kennedy, Eddie Griffin and Ray Liotta

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., March 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz Entertainment continues its relationship with Indie Producer Bob Yari, acquiring the exclusive rights to five films which will premiere in 2008 on the Starz and Encore linear channels as well as Starz On Demand and Vongo, Starz Entertainment's broadband video download service.

Films in the exclusive deal include Even Money starring Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger, Tim Roth, Ray Liotta, Nick Cannon and Kelsey Grammer; Kickin' It Old Skool starring Jamie Kennedy; Redline starring Eddie Griffin; Gray Matters starring Sissy Spacek, Heather Graham, Bridget Moynahan and Alan Cumming; and First Snow starring Guy Pearce, Piper Perabo, J.K. Simmons and William Fichtner.

"We have a long-standing relationship with Starz and are pleased to be able to continue that partnership," says Yari, President, Yari Film Group. "Being able to offer our content to Starz' subscribers on their various distribution platforms helps us achieve our goals -- enabling our films to have a long and profitable life, broadening their audiences as well as their business potential."

"It gives us great pleasure to be able to continue our relationship with Bob Yari," says Nancy Silverstone, vice president of program acquisitions for Starz Entertainment. "We're excited to showcase his films, each filled with unique casts, on all our platforms."

Director Mark Rydell's Even Money takes gambling and intertwines its effects on the lives of a group of people including a washed-up magician (Danny DeVito), a desperate writer (Kim Basinger), a handyman (Forest Whitaker) and his basketball playing brother (Nick Cannon). The film costars Ray Liotta, Kelsey Grammer, Tim Roth, Carla Gugino and Jay Mohr. The film was written by Robert Tannen.

In Kickin' It Old Skool, former breakdancer Justin (Jamie Kennedy) awakens from a 20-year coma. Facing a changed world, Justin tries to get himself back on track by entering a big breakdancing contest. The comedy costars Debra Jo Rupp, Maria Menounos, Christopher McDonald and a cameo from the "Hoff" David Hasselhoff.

In Redline, a gorgeous young automobile fanatic and front to the hottest unsigned band on the West coast finds herself caught up in illegal drag-racing competitions organized for the pleasure of bored billionaires. The film stars Eddie Griffin and is directed by stunt coordinator-turned-director Andy Cheng.

The screwball comedy Gray Matters focuses on New York siblings Gray (Heather Graham) and Sam (Tom Cavanaugh), who, due to their similar tastes, are often mistaken for a couple. When Sam falls "head over heals" for Charlie (Bridget Moynahan) -- so does Gray, and that's when all the confusion begins. Sissy Spacek, Alan Cumming and Molly Shannon co-star.

The neo-noir thriller First Snow stars Guy Pearce as Jimmy, a slick, sleazy salesman who meets a fortune teller (J.K. Simmons) who tells him he'll die, but not before the first snow. Jimmy's past catches up with him, but will it overtake him or will he avoid his "presumed fate"? First Snow costars Piper Perabo and William Fichtner.

Starz has previously licensed from the Yari Film Group The Illusionist, starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel; Find Me Guilty, a dramatic comedy starring Vin Diesel; and Winter Passing, starring Ed Harris, Will Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel.

About the Yari Film Group:

Founded in 2002, Yari Film Group has established itself as one of the most successful independent film companies in Hollywood, with over 30 films produced over the last three years. Casting top-tier talent in compelling projects with consumer appeal, the company is dedicated to ensuring creative freedom for its filmmakers. YFG recently wrapped production on three features: The thriller Nothing But The Truth written and directed by Rod Lurie with Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett, Noah Wyle, and Alan Alda, The Lonely Maiden, a comedy directed by Peter Hewitt and written by Mike LeSieur starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy and the drama Real Men Cry starring Mark Ruffalo, Ethan Hawke and Amanda Peet. The company's credits include Oscar(R) 2005 Best Picture Winner Crash, Dave Chappelle's Block Party, The Pierce Brosnan-starrer The Matador, Thumbsucker, Hostage, Love Song for Bobby Long, Prime starring Meryl Streep and Uma Thurman, The Hoax starring Richard Gere and The Painted Veil, starring Edward Norton and Naomi Watts.

Upcoming 2008 releases include The Accidental Husband, a romantic comedy starring Uma Thurman, Colin Firth and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as well as Assassination of a High School President, an irreverent high school comedy with Mischa Barton, Reece Thompson and Bruce Willis. The film world premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Starz Entertainment, LLC, is a premium movie service provider operating in the United States. It offers 16 movie channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) brands with approximately 16.3 million and 30.7 million subscribers respectively. Starz Entertainment airs more than 1,000 movies per month across its pay TV channels and offers advanced services including Starz HD, Starz On Demand and Vongo(R). Starz Entertainment (http://www.starz.com/) is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation, and is attributed to Liberty Entertainment Group, a tracking stock group of Liberty Media Corporation.

    Contacts:   Steve Belgard                   Robin Mesger                Starz Entertainment             The Lippin Group                (720) 852-5843                  (323) 965-1990                steve.belgard@starz.com         rmesger@lippingroup.com  

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Source: Starz Entertainment, LLC

CONTACT: Steve Belgard of Starz Entertainment, +1-720-852-5843,
steve.belgard@starz.com; or Robin Mesger of The Lippin Group, +1-323-965-1990,
rmesger@lippingroup.com, for Starz Entertainment

Web site: http://www.starz.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment