Focus Features

[ianungstad]

Universal has closed the NY office of Focus Features and fired president James Schamus. Independent distributor FilmDistrict is merging with Universal and the ceo of FilmDistrict will now head the new Focus Features which will focus more on genre films and titles that play to a broad audience. All planned FilmDistrict titles from 2014 will now be released under the Focus banner.

[Jeff]

Discouraging news. Focus has been the most consistently reliable and adventurous of the mini-majors for some time, and as far as I can tell, the company was Schamus. The fact that they're moving from NY to LA and absorbing a company known for stuff like Insidious, Parker, and Olympus Has Fallen gives you an idea of where things are headed. I suspect Schamus was responsible for Focus' relationship with Criterion too. That may be a thing of the past now too. Here's hoping he ends up with a great new gig.

[ianungstad]

I hope he starts up a new independent distribution company with some big money behind it. That could actually improve the indie scene in the long run. I'm sure Criterion grabbed all the catalog titles they wanted. I don't see it being all that likely that the type of film that FilmDistrict goes after would appeal to Criterion anyways.

[Jeff]

I don't see it being all that likely that the type of film that FilmDistrict goes after would appeal to Criterion anyways.

Probably not, though FilmDistrict did release Drive and Looper, and they've got Spike Lee's Oldboy. Even a stopped clock, etc.

[jindianajonz]

I suspect Schamus was responsible for Focus' relationship with Criterion too.

What Focus Features titles have gone to Criterion?

[The Narrator Returns]

I don't see it being all that likely that the type of film that FilmDistrict goes after would appeal to Criterion anyways.

Probably not, though FilmDistrict did release Drive and Looper, and they've got Spike Lee's Oldboy. Even a stopped clock, etc.

They were also partial distributors of Only God Forgives, although Anchor Bay has the home video rights.

[ianungstad]

What Focus Features titles have gone to Criterion?

Last Days of Disco
The Game
Ride with the Devil
Topsy-Turvy
Rosetta
Being John Malkovich
Monsoon Wedding
Repo Man

[Brian C]

Looper was a Sony release here in the US.

[flyonthewall2983]

FilmDistrict still had their name on it.

I'm wondering what this could mean for a possible Drive Criterion.

[Cronenfly]

Really sad news. They had their share of middle-of-the-road bores, but on the whole Focus (as it existed up until this point) was one of the brightest lights among the American mini-majors left standing.

It seems to me that as long as the Universal connection remains, the Focus titles on loan to Criterion are not in jeopardy (nor are the chances of further titles down the line; there is precedent to this kind of restructuring at/under Universal [see: the Gramercy/USA titles/libraries], and by all accounts Criterion has a more open/thoroughgoing relationship with Universal than any of the other big Hollywood studios), but we shall see...

[Brian C]

FilmDistrict still had their name on it.

Yes, but as far as I can tell they have no actual distribution rights, so their name in the credits is a moot point.

Not that it matters, of course - I just want to make sure people know that the chances of a Criterion Looper are unaffected by this deal. Brick on the other hand is a Focus title...

[jindianajonz]

"The breadth and depth of Peter's experience in the film business including production, acquisitions, distribution and most recently running FilmDistrict, will be a tremendous asset to Focus Features as the company broadens its portfolio beyond the production and distribution of specialty product," said Langley.
They should just go ahead and rename the company Unfocused Features

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

What Focus Features titles have gone to Criterion?

Last Days of Disco
The Game
Ride with the Devil
Topsy-Turvy
Rosetta
Being John Malkovich
Monsoon Wedding
Repo Man

In the Mood for Love (originally a USA Films release) is also with Focus now and credited as such on the Blu-ray edition. Traffic should be with Focus too but they're not mentioned on the BD packaging, so I'm not sure what the deal is there.

FilmDistrict still had their name on it.

Yes, but as far as I can tell they have no actual distribution rights, so their name in the credits is a moot point.

Not that it matters, of course - I just want to make sure people know that the chances of a Criterion Looper are unaffected by this deal. Brick on the other hand is a Focus title...

FilmDistrict bought the U.S. distribution rights to Looper and partnered with Sony for the actual release. I don't know the exact details of the deal, but in theory it could revert to FilmDistrict at some point. But that would probably be years down the line, so it's still not worth speculating about a Criterion release (or a Universal release for that matter).

[Jeff]

FilmDistrict bought the U.S. distribution rights to Looper and partnered with Sony for the actual release. I don't know the exact details of the deal, but in theory it could revert to FilmDistrict at some point. But that would probably be years down the line, so it's still not worth speculating about a Criterion release (or a Universal release for that matter).

Yes, FilmDistrict actually owns the U.S. rights. They didn't have the infrastructure for a release that wide, so they partnered with TriStar (Sony) to get the release in theaters on this and a couple of other titles. All of Sony's claims should expire eventually. My original comment wasn't really about what Criterion might eventually get their hands on though, just pointing out that on a couple of occasions FilmDistrict acquired stuff that wasn't awful.

[flyonthewall2983]

Should have seen a shift like this coming once it was announced Focus would produce the 50 Shades Of Grey movie.

[Jeff]

Variety on the leadership shakeup.

[hearthesilence]

Well this sucks. I mean, for American cinema, this really sucks.