Eurocinema

Los Angeles - October 16, 2006 -- Eurocinema, the first and only branded on-demand video service featuring award-winning, European theatrical films, has signed an exclusive deal with leading independent film distributor First Run Features, making premiere titles from its catalog available to foreign film lovers across North America via video on demand beginning December. Larry Namer, Head of U.S. Operations, Eurocinema, made the announcement today. "First Run Features' roster includes award-winning foreign film titles that are not readily accessible by North American audiences until now for the first time on Eurocinema," said Namer. "By aligning with the Eurocinema brand, First Run will definitely benefit with increased marketing and promotional support for its entire indie catalog as well as for individual titles. We're delighted to add First Runs' content to our offerings and look forward to a long and successful partnership." Premiere First Run feature titles debuting on Eurocinema this December are "La Petite Lili" "Go For Zucker" "Merci Pour Le Chocolat" and "Kira's Reason." Cleo Godsey, Director of Business Affairs, of First Run Features added, "We are very excited to be a part of Eurocinema's programming, allowing our titles to reach a much wider but more focused audience through cable VOD." Each feature film featured on Eurocinema serves as the centerpiece of a two-hour hosted thematic programming block designed to provide perspective on the main theme, with supplemental content such as host commentary, original documentaries, director interviews, as well as rarely seen short-format films relevant to the feature. Eurocinema, now available in 12 million homes, can be found in top markets across the U.S. on Time Warner, Charter, Mediacom, Atlantic Broadband, Bresnan Communications, Bright House Communications, and Buckeye Communications, as well as on Shaw Communications in Canada. Eurocinema's December slate include: "La Petite Lili" French w/English subtitles, 2003, Ludivine Sagnier (Swimming Pool) stars as Lili, the love and muse of an idealistic young filmmaker named Julien. At odds with the serenity of the breathtaking French countryside, Julien rebels against his mother and her guests, while multiple intrigues of lust and power play out behind the scenes. From La Petite Lili's opening moments, one of the steamiest sexual encounters in film, director Claude Miller's modern adaptation of Chekhov's "The Seagull" envelops the viewer with its lush visuals while the layers of distinction between art and memory are shed. Winner of three international film awards and Palm D'Or nominee at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. "Go For Zucker" German w/English subtitles, 2004, Directed by Dani Levy and the producers of "Run Lola Run" and "Goodbye Lenin." Down on his luck, conniving pool shark Jaeckie Zucker (Henry Hubchen) must make up with his estranged Orthodox Jewish brother Samuel in order to meet the terms of his mother's inheritance - the only thing that could save him from jail, ruin and divorce. But as Samuel and his entire clan move into Jaeckie's chaotic household, a clash of civilizations is inevitable, and Jaeckie's going to need every trick he can think of to make things go smoothly. Winner of seven international film awards. "Merci Pour Le Chocolat" (Nightcap) Vintage Chabrol. Intricate plots wend their way through the elegant homes of several well-heeled French-Swiss, in Lausanne, Switzerland in the film that many compare to Hitchcock's "Suspicion." Isabelle Huppert, who won the best actress award at the Montreal Film Festival for this role, stars as Mika, the oh-so-perfect head of a company than manufactures Swiss chocolate. Jacques Dutronc plays Andre, her suave, concert pianist husband whose first wife died years before in a mysterious car accident. How is it that Andre's teenage son has no musical talent, while the stunning Jeanne, who shares his birthday, is already a world-class pianist? Why does Huppert insist that everyone sip the hot chocolate she prepares so faithfully each evening? Chabrol has fashioned a delectable mystery, dipped in darkest Swiss chocolate. The BBC's George Perry says, "Huppert excels as Mika and Anna Mouglalis is a stunning new young talent," "...one of Chabrol's most intense psychological mysteries." "Kira's Reason" Directed by Ole Christian Madsen, in the Dogme style, in fact watch for the official Dogme statement of approval at the beginning of the movie signed by Lars Von Trier. Enjoying life in their mid-thirties, Kira, played by Stine Stengade who won two best actress awards for this role, and her husband Mads (Lars Mikkelsen) have a large house and two wonderful children. Their world is perfectly secure and comfortable until Kira develops a psychiatric disorder, which eventually commits her to a hospital. On being discharged, Kira's sole desire is to return to the normality of her previous life and fulfill her role as a good wife and mother. But as she struggles to maintain equilibrium, she discovers Mads has had an affair during her hospitalization. "There isn't a false note...the performances are simply luminescent." - The Globe and Mail "Easily one of the most affecting films of the year." - Toronto Eye EurocinemaSM is a Video-On-Demand service offering fans of global cinema access to feature movies otherwise unavailable to them and providing foreign film makers unprecedented visibility in front of North American viewers and the Hollywood creative community. Eurocinema is available on over 150 cable TV systems serving 12 million subscribers, with new systems being added monthly. Eurocinema is a service mark of EuroMedia Holdings Corp., a public company soon to be listed for trading. www.eurocinema.com. First Run Features was founded in 1979 by a group of filmmakers to advance the distribution of independent film. Under the leadership of the late independent film pioneer, Fran Spielman, First Run Features quickly gained a reputation for its controversial catalog of daring independent fiction and non-fiction films. First Run remains one of the largest independent theatrical and home video distributors in the United States, releasing 12 to 15 films a year in theatres nationwide and 40 to 50 videos and DVDs annually.