Constantin, Propaganda pact for pics

Third major stateside deal in week

CANNES — Constantin Film is pacting with former Polygram holding Propaganda Films in a joint production venture to lens three or four pics a year for TV and film. With its third major U.S. deal struck inside a week, the vet German player has made crystal clear that Hollywood will be its next stomping ground.

The company will rely on such Propaganda talent as Spike Jonze ("Being John Malkovich") and Mark Pellington ("Arlington Road").

"The company’s strength is to take great ideas suggested by our ‘Propaganda family’ of producers, actors, authors and directors — and to implement them," Propaganda prexy Rick Hess said.

"Unusual talent, many years of production experience, creative sensitivity and a successful management which has justified our confidence for years are the basis of an excellent partnership," said Bernd Eichinger, Constantin’s topper.

The Teuton titan struck two other deals Stateside last week: It is forming a first-look co-financing and development deal for feature films with Key Entertainment ("If These Walls Could Talk," "Judas Kiss") and, in a deal announced Friday, a joint production venture with the U.K./U.S. based Impact Pictures ("Mortal Kombat") to serve the international market. Constantin is set to co-finance or fully finance some of the pics.

Company is further strengthened through a five-year first-look distribution deal with the Kirch Group, which gives it access to top U.S. product from Kirch’s output deal partners, including Spyglass Entertainment and Hyde Park.

Constantin itself recently signed an output deal with the newly formed Escape Artists.

USA Films took over Propaganda last April alongside all other domestic Polygram assets.

Under co-founder Steve Golin, the company has moved from a musicvideo specialist ("Truth or Dare") and advertising producer into a feature films producer.

Pics include Jonze’s "Being John Malkovich," Neil LaBute’s "Nurse Betty" and Mike Davis’ "The Match."