News

CANNES, FRANCE (May 23, 2013) - Berry Meyerowitz, President & CEO of Phase 4 Films, announced today from the 2013 Cannes Film Festival that the company has acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to Shana Betz’s FREE RIDE, Trevor White’s JAMESY BOY, John Huddle’s PHILOSOPHERS, and previously announced, THE CRASH REEL, directed by Lucy Walker.

Propelling the expansion of the company’s business, Phase 4 Films has additionally finalized a long term financing with Aver Media Finance, a part of BMO Financial Group. The funds will be used to provide additional resources to expand its content acquisitions and further scale its distribution.

About FREE RIDE

Based on a true story, the crime-thriller FREE RIDE stars Anna Paquin, Cam Gigandet, Drea De Matteo, Liana Liberato, Jeff Hephner, Brit Morgan and Ava Acres. The screenplay is written by Betz, produced by Susan Dynner, Cerise Hallam Larkin, and Paquin, and executive produced by Mark Larkin and Stephen Moyer. Set in the 1970s and based on her life story, Betz’s accomplished directorial debut is a provocative crime thriller that stars Academy Award®-winner Anna Paquin as a single mother who moves to Florida with her daughters in search of a better life, but gets pulled into the high-stakes drug-trade business

The deal for FREE RIDE was negotiated by Phase 4's Larry Greenberg and Katharyn Howe with Paradigm's Nick LoPiccolo and attorney Ron Levin on behalf of the filmmakers. Featured Artists Agency's Brian Dreyfuss reps Betz and was heavily involved in packaging the movie. Cargo Entertainment is handling international sales.

About JAMESY BOY

XLrator Media and Phase 4 Films have teamed together to buy the North American rights to JAMESY BOY, a crime-thriller based on a true story, directed by Trevor White and written by White and Lane Shadgett. The film stars Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), James Woods (White House Down), Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible), Taissa Farmiga (The Bling Ring) and introducing Spencer Lofranco as James, a teenager who goes from the suburban street gangs to a maximum-security prison cell surrounded by hardened criminals. In prison, he forms a friendship with a convicted murderer (Ving Rhames) who becomes his mentor and helps him turn his life around. In this unlikely setting, James ultimately emerges with hope and a brighter future.

The deal was negotiated by Larry Greenberg of Phase 4 Films and Barry Gordon of XLrator Media with the Paradigm Finance Group on behalf of the filmmakers. Atlas International is handling the foreign sales.

About PHILOSOPHERS

Written and directed by John Huddles, PHILOSOPHERS is a sci-fi, fantasy thriller starring James Darcy (Cloud Atlas), Sophie Lowe (Beautiful Kate), Daryl Sabara (Spy Kids), Freddie Stroma (Harry Potter), Rhys Wakefield (Sanctum) and Bonnie Wright (Harry Potter). The film follows an international philosophy teacher in Jakarta, who challenges his class of 20 graduating seniors to choose which ten of them would take shelter underground and reboot the human race in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.

Phase 4’s Larry Greenberg and Katharyn Howe negotiated with Paradigm on behalf of the filmmakers.

About THE CRASH REEL

Academy-Award nominated filmmaker Lucy Walker premiered THE CRASH REEL at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, with the screenplay by Pedro Kos and Walker, produced by Julian Cautherley and Walker, and executive produced by Sheila Nevins. The film follows childhood friends and snowboarding legends Shaun White and Kevin Pearce, who were ranked in the top two globally leading up to the Vancouver Winter Olympics. While White powers towards Olympic glory, an injury leaves Pearce out of the running. The Crash Reel takes a fascinating yet heartwarming look at what started as an epic rivalry in the sports world, but ended in two very different journeys to victory.

The deal for The Crash Reel was negotiated by Phase 4's Larry Greenberg and Sam Posner with Andrew Herwitz at The Film Sales Company on behalf of the filmmakers. HBO, who helped to finance the film, will retain U.S. television broadcast rights. Phase 4 is planning an early Winter 2013 theatrical release.

# # #

For more information, please contact:

Larry Zolob

Phase 4 Films

lzolob@phase4films.com

(416) 783-8383 ext. 228

About Phase 4 Films

Phase 4 Films is one of the leading full service independent studios. With offices in nine cities in the U.S. and Canada, the company provides a full range of services relating to the sales, marketing, licensing and distribution of feature films, television and special interest content across all media in the North American market. Its dedicated kids & family label, kaboom! Entertainment, is one of the most recognizable brands in the children's and family market.