City Lights Pictures Acquires North American Rights to 'Gardens of the Night'

City Lights Pictures Acquires North American Rights to 'Gardens of the Night'

Film will have its theatrical release in the fall

CANNES, France, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- City Lights Pictures announced today the acquisition of the North American rights to Damian Harris' drama Gardens of the Night starring newcomers Gillian Jacobs, Evan Ross, and Ryan Simpkins, along with Tom Arnold and a supporting cast including John Malkovich, Jeremy Sisto, Kevin Zegers, and Harold Perrineau. Harris wrote and directed.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080521/NYW124)

Gardens of the Night tells the intense story of Leslie (Gillian Jacobs), who struggles with a hand to mouth existence on the streets of San Diego with only her childhood friend Donnie (Evan Ross) to look after her, both of them trying to cope with the trauma of having been abducted and held captive by two men, played by Tom Arnold and Kevin Zegers, nine years earlier.

"Our entire team fell in love with this film when we screened it," says City Lights Pictures' CEO Danny Fisher. "Not only is this one of the most heartbreaking films I've ever seen, it has brilliant performances by each and every cast member and directed with realism and emotional power by Damian Harris." City Lights Pictures will release the film theatrically in the fall followed by a DVD release through City Lights Home Entertainment.

R.D. Robb, Pascal Franchott, Joe Dain and Damian Harris produced the film. Paula Huidobro is the director of photography, Michal Shemesh served as editor, and original music is by Craig Richey. Cassian Elwes of William Morris brokered the deal on behalf of the producers with Mark Ragone, EVP of Business Affairs and Marcus Lansdell, Head of Acquisitions for City Lights Pictures.

Emerging independent studio City Lights Pictures recently acquired Brazil's official selection for the 80th Academy Awards, "The Year My Parents Went on Vacation," released theatrically throughout North America by its distribution arm City Lights Pictures Releasing. In 2007 City Lights Pictures acquired and distributed Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner "Manda Bala," and Michael Corrente's "Brooklyn Rules" starring Alec Baldwin. City Lights Pictures executive produced John Waters' "A Dirty Shame" for New Line Cinema and produced supernatural thriller "Tamara" for Lionsgate. Other recent films produced include "Descent," starring Rosario Dawson and "The Ten," directed by David Wain and starring Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder and Jessica Alba. Most recently completed film was "Harold" starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Nikki Blonsky. For more information, please visit www.citylightsmedia.com.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080521/NYW124
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: City Lights Pictures

CONTACT: Isabel Quinteros of Rubenstein Public Relations,
+1-212-843-8027, iquinteros@rubensteinpr.com, for City Lights Pictures

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

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Profile: International Entertainment