LONDON -- Nine months after being awarded its lottery franchise, DNA Films finally has signed its formal six-year deal with the Arts Council of England.
DNA, a partnership between producers Duncan Kenworthy and Andrew Macdonald, was one of three franchise winners announced by ACE in May. The other two, the Film Consortium and Pathe Pictures, have been up and running since early fall.
Kenworthy and Macdonald delayed signing their contract, which will give them access to $48 million in lottery finance for around 16 movies, in an attempt to secure better terms from ACE.
They also currently are in negotiations with Polygram Filmed Entertainment to extend their existing output deal for U.K. distribution to cover PFE's international territories as well.
The first DNA project could be Kenworthy's "Mike Bassett: England Manager," a spoof soccer documentary that was provisionally awarded lottery coin last year, conditional on DNA signing their franchise deal.
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