Cinequest Partners with Rivercoast Films in Distribution Deal

Cinequest Distribution proudly announces its recent partnership with Rivercoast Films Distribution, a new video company founded by former First Look Home Entertainment veterans Michael Katchman and Tony Ventura.

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) November 4, 2007 -- Cinequest Distribution proudly announces its recent partnership with Rivercoast Films Distribution, a new video company founded by former First Look Home Entertainment veterans Michael Katchman and Tony Ventura.

Both Cinequest Distribution and Rivercoast champion the release of independent films which deserve a global audience but might not be given that chance due to being films which do not fit a typical Hollywood formula. With less than one percent of U.S. and less than five percent of international indie films receiving traditional Hollywood distribution, both companies are breaking boundaries by creating a leading distribution solution for international and independent films that shouldn't get lost after their festival premiere.

The two companies have made an agreement on the following films: Still Waters Burn, starring Ian Hart (Backbeat, Finding Neverland) and releasing February 12, 2008, is a suspenseful drama about a game of truth or dare that ignites latent love. Crazy Like a Fox, starring Mary McDonnell (Battlestar Galactica, Mumford) and releasing April 8, 2008, is a comedy drama about a small town renegade who won't go down without a fight when big city speculators cheat him out of his Virginia farm.

The Vision
Cinequest, long a harbinger of the use of new technology to empower artists, has built its name as a film institute that delivers a high-quality product. With its distribution label, Cinequest maintains that standard by delivering content to fans worldwide using a unique distribution strategy. Cinequest's connection to Silicon Valley technology leaders, such as board members William H. Hearst and Steve Wozniak, have enabled Cinequest to implement only the best standards for its VOD site www.cinequestonline.org, and also to develop relationships with partner companies such as Jaman.com, Vuze.com, Intel, Palm and Panasonic. Currently Cinequest DVD wholesale relationships include mass-market retail centers via the forces of Netflix, Hollywood Entertainment, Blockbuster, Baker & Taylor, Ingram Entertainment, TNT Media, VPD, Waxworks and others. Television and theatrical components are also in development.

Cinequest Co-Founders
Cinequest co-founders Halfdan Hussey and Kathleen J. Powell developed both the Cinequest Film Festival and the Cinequest Distribution Label. Both Hussey and Powell have established an impressive portfolio of achievements in the independent film industry and business world. Their first venture (Hussey as director, Powell as producer) an independent feature film entitled, He's Still There, premiered to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival, Italy. Robert Wise (legendary director of West Side Story, The Day the Earth Stood Still) had the following to say about their second film: "I really like Still Waters Burn. Its young director shows brilliant promise and talent." Currently they are producing a series of nine interrelated novels and films--the first, To the Dogs, goes into publication and production in 2008.

The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide placed Cinequest in the Top 10 for several categories amongst the world's festivals. Cinequest's renowned tribute guests such as Jackie Chan, Peter Fonda, Sir Ben Kingsley, William H. Macy, Ian McKellen, Barry Sonnenfeld, Kevin Spacey, Christine Vachon, Gus Van Sant and John Waters attest to the fact that Cinequest has become a hot stop in the film festival circuit.

Rivercoast Films Distribution Co-Founders
Michael Katchman has been an Executive at Orion/MGM, Lionsgate, and First Look Home Entertainment over the past 15 years, and has been in the video business for a total of 21 years. Tony Ventura is a 34-year veteran of production, sales, and distribution of music, film, and video. The last 14 years included stints as Director of Sales at First Look Home Entertainment and Vice President of Sales at Sunset Films.

For more information about Cinequest Distribution go to www.cinequest.org.

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