HULU STRIKES FIRST EVER DEAL FOR PAY ONE WINDOW RIGHTS WITH IFC FILMS
Deal Makes Hulu The Exclusive Streaming Home For Future IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight Documentary Films Directly Following Theatrical Releases
SANTA MONICA, CA (January 27, 2016) - In a groundbreaking agreement, Hulu and IFC Films have closed a landmark output deal that will make Hulu the exclusive streaming home for all future documentary releases from IFC Films, which will include all documentaries from the brands IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. The multi-year agreement marks the first time these documentary films will be available on Hulu within the first window following their initial release in theaters and on-demand. Future IFC Films documentaries will be available to stream through Hulu's No Commercials and Limited Commercial subscription plans.
Beginning this fall, Hulu will be the exclusive streaming video on-demand home to highly anticipated documentary releases from IFC Films, and will be the only destination to stream future documentaries from IFC Films following their run in theaters. The deal also grants Hulu the streaming rights to debut future trailers for all IFC Films documentaries.
The first documentary feature to premiere on Hulu in-window will be King Georges - in theaters & on-demand Feb 26th, and available on Hulu this fall. The documentary captures Georges Perrier, the 67-year-old owner of Le Bec-Fin, one of the finest French restaurants in the country, as he prepares to sell the restaurant after more than four decades in business. City of Gold, a richly penetrating documentary odyssey that follows Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold, will also become exclusive to Hulu following its theatrical release on March 11th. The film will follow Gold as he shows audiences a Los Angeles where ethnic cooking is a kaleidoscopic portal to the mysteries of an unwieldy city and the soul of America.
In addition, the deal will bring the critically acclaimed new Sundance Selects documentary Weiner about Anthony Weiner and his failed New York City mayoral campaign, to Hulu following its linear run on Showtime. The film made its world premiere this week at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Future IFC Films documentary releases arriving on Hulu will be announced at a later date.
"We are so excited to announce this groundbreaking first window partnership with Hulu. IFC Films and Sundance Selects take great pride in the quality of the documentaries that we acquire and release every year and we are thrilled to have Hulu as a destination for them. Hulu is the ideal partner for first window exhibition and will provide a terrific opportunity in promoting each films' theatrical release," says Lisa Schwartz, Executive Vice President, Distribution, Operations and Business Development.
The agreement represents an expansion of Hulu's partnership with AMC Networks, which owns and operates IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight as sister labels. Last year, Hulu and AMC Networks announced an output deal for the exclusive SVOD rights to new and upcoming primetime scripted drama and comedy series from AMC, IFC TV, BBC AMERICA, SundanceTV and WE tv. The deal brought films from the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight collection exclusively to Hulu, including 2012 Sundance Film award winner Sleepwalk with Me; Room 237, the documentary film by Rodney Ascher about the perceived meaning of the film The Shining; Pina, the 3D film about dance choreographer Pina Bausch; and L.A. Outfest Grand Jury Award winner Weekend.
Over the past year, Hulu has become the streaming home to a significant number of films from the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight collection, and struck a deal to add recent blockbuster films to its lineup through a new deal with premium entertainment network EPIX. Hulu also offers hundreds of classic, award-winning films from The Criterion Collection, as well as a larger selection of films through its distribution deal for a premium add-on subscription to SHOWTIME.
About Hulu
Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of current season programming, premium original content, films and full seasons of hit series to subscribers with limited commercials for $7.99 per month or commercial free for $11.99 per month. Hulu is the only streaming subscription service that offers current season content from 5 of the 6 largest U.S. broadcast networks. Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has been at the forefront of entertainment and technology and continues to redefine TV by connecting viewers with the stories they love.
About IFC Films
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of quality talent-driven independent film. Upcoming releases include Matthew Brown's THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY starring Jeremy Irons and Dev Patel. Previous IFC Films successes include Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD starring Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and Lorelei Linklater, which was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture; Joel Zwick's MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Michael Moore's FAHRENHEIT 9/11, Lena Dunham's TINY FURNITURE, Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA, and Alfonso Cuaron's Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN. IFC Films is a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About SUNDANCE SELECTS
Established in 2009 and based in New York City, Sundance Selects is a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films focusing on American independents, documentaries and world cinema. Upcoming releases include Laura Gabbert's CITY OF GOLD; Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg's WEINER and Jerzy Skolimowski's 11 MINUTES. Recent releases include Andrew Haigh's Oscar-nominated 45 YEARS, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay; Olivier Assayas' CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA, starring Juliette Binoche and Kirsten Stewart; Christian Petzold's PHOENIX; and Corneliu Porumboiu's THE TREASURE. Previous releases include the Dardenne Brothers' Oscar-nominated TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT; David France's Oscar-nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE; Wim Wenders' Oscar-nominated documentary PINA; Werner Herzog's CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS; Abdellatif Kechiche's award-winning BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, starring Ad�le Exarchopoulos; Richard Rowley's Oscar-nominated DIRTY WARS; and John Maloof and Charlie Siskel's Oscar-nominated FINDING VIVIAN MAIER. Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About IFC MIDNIGHT
Established in 2010 and based in New York City, IFC Midnight is a leading U.S. distributor of genre entertainment including horror, science fiction, thrillers, erotic art house, action and more. Upcoming releases include Nick Robertson's feature debut THE PACK. Recent releases include Corin Hardy's THE HALLOW; Tara Subkoff's #HORROR; and Andrew Droz Palermo's ONE AND TWO. Some of the company's previous successes have included Jennifer Kent's critically acclaimed THE BABADOOK; Ben Wheatley's unconventional hitman thriller KILL LIST; and Rodney Ascher's acclaimed documentary ROOM 237. IFC Midnight is a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Films, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
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