Critically Acclaimed Irish Doc COLONY set for US Release
Following its successful Irish release, the feature documentary Colony has now secured a US release with Area 23a. Founded by hybrid-distribution guru Richard Abramowitz and Ocule Films founder Kirt Eftekhar, the new model distribution company offers alternative ways to reach audiences across the United States focusing on event driven films with a special emphasis on social issue and music performance films, providing theatrical exposure through openings in libraries, museums, community centers, and college campuses, in addition to traditional venues like theaters, cinematheques and festivals.
Commenting on Colony's place within this new model Abramowitz says "for a lot of films, the traditional theatrical release is prohibitively costly and, frankly, wrong. Area23a is designed to maximize exposure through social media as well as old school grass roots and position our films as integral parts of a vibrant dialogue." The film will also be released in the US on VOD, DVD and Blu-ray via Area 23a's output deal with home entertainment distributor New Video.
The recent development comes on the back of the film being selected to participate in the IDA DocuWeeks Theatrical Documentary Showcase. The program was set up in order to qualify outstanding new feature and short documentaries for Academy Award consideration, by providing its participants with a seven-day commercial theatrical run at the ArcLight Theatre in Hollywood and at the IFC Centre in Manhattan. Launched in 1997, DocuWeeks has qualified over 160 short and feature length films yielding 17 nominations and seven Oscar winners. Some of the past documentaries in DocuWeeks include Oscar winners Smile Pinki and Taxi to the Dark Side, as well as Oscar Nominees The Betrayal, Salim Baba, and Sari's Mother.
As well as being screened at over fifty international film festivals, other news sees Colony also being sold to Planet Green for the second season of its though provoking documentary television strand Reel Impact, the network which has now become the home for issue-orientated, award-winning nonfiction filmmaking in the US. Other films included in this next strand include the Oscar nominated The Cove, Supersize Me, King Corn and Collapse. Following on from its successful theatrical run in Holland the film will now be released on DVD over there on the prestigious Delicatessen label during the winter. Other territories now sold include Canada, Finland, Japan, Greenland, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Israel.