Screen Media Films and Starz Digital Media, the digital distribution unit of Starz, have partnered to acquire all North American rights to Ellie Kanner's comedy AUTHORS ANONYMOUS, which stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein, Dennis Farina, Jonathan Bennett, Dylan Walsh, and Teri Polo. The film is slated for early Spring 2014 release date across VOD and digital platforms and in select theaters.
AUTHORS ANONYMOUS is about a dysfunctional group of unpublished writers. When they accept Hannah (Kaley Cuoco) into their fold, the last thing they expect is her overnight success. Can these lovable misfits achieve their artistic dreams and avoid killing one another in the process?
"Life imitates art in many films but we were really drawn to Ellie Kanner's very funny, and too true, take on the ultimate Hollywood success story," said Suzanne Blech, President of Screen Media.
"I am very excited to be working with the teams at
Screen Media and Starz Digital Media," said Ellie Kanner in a statement. "And I am thrilled that the film will have the chance to reach the widest possible audience in theaters and on VOD."
The deal was negotiated by Blech and Seth Needle of
Screen Media along with Starz Digital and by Traction Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
AUTHORS ANONYMOUS was directed by Ellie Kanner, written by David Congalton, produced by Hal Schwartz and Ellie Kanner. The film is from Kanner's Forever Sunny Productions and Schwartz's Bull Market Entertainment in association with Cynthia and Laine Guidry's Lainie Productions. The Executive Producers are Cynthia Guidry, Lainie Guidry, Jonathan Bennett, and Kaley Cuoco with cinematography by Tobias Datum, editing by Stephen Myers, and original music by Jeff Cardoni. The film stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein, Jonathan Bennett, Dylan Walsh, Teri Polo, and Dennis Farina, in one of his last performances.
About Screen Media:
Screen Media acquires the rights to high quality, independent feature films for the US and Canada. Screen Media's theatrical releases include "Heleno," starring Rodrigo Santoro; "La Mission," starring Benjamin Bratt; "The City of Your Final Destination," starring Anthony Hopkins and Laura Linney; "Lymelife," starring Alec Baldwin, Emma Roberts and Cynthia Nixon and "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" starring Robin Wright and Keanu Reeves. Since 2001,
Screen Media Films has released more than 250 titles including "Noel," starring Penelope Cruz and Susan Sarandon; "Sherrybaby," starring Maggie Gyllenhaal; Kevin Bacon's directorial debut, "Loverboy;" and Emmy nominated "Dog Whisperer" with Cesar Millan. Recent theatrical releases include the recent Sundance favorites "The Lifeguard," starring Kristen Bell and Kyle Patrick Alvarez's "C.O.G.", the first film adaptation of famed author David Sedaris, and the Slamdance hit Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde.
Screen Media Films is a division of
Screen Media Ventures, LLC. With a library of over 1,500 motion pictures,
Screen Media Ventures is one of the largest independent suppliers of high quality motion pictures to U.S. and international broadcast markets, cable networks, home video outlets and new media venues. For more information, visit
www.screenmediafilms.net.
ABOUT STARZ DIGITAL MEDIA: Starz Digital Media is a leading distributor of digital and on-demand content. Starz Digital Media distributes original programming content (Starz and AMC), feature films (The Weinstein Company, Anchor Bay Films), anime (Manga Entertainment) and other filmed entertainment utilizing various business models including download-to-own/electronic sell-through, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, subscription video-on-demand and ad-supported streaming. Starz Digital Media also programs and supports numerous ad-supported broadband channels and develops games, applications and other related content from many of its properties for distribution worldwide. Starz Digital Media is a Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) business,
www.starz.com.
