Alpha Beta start

Winters-Bachtiari team bows with 3-pic slate

By DANA HARRIS

CANNES -- David Winters and Andre Bachtiari have launched Alpha Beta Films Intl. with a three-pic slate. Shingle is self-financed and plans to produce three or four films per year in the $5 million-$25 million budget range.

Winters, who directed Alpha Beta's first feature, "Welcome 2 Ibiza," is a veteran filmmaker based in London. Bachtiari is a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur.

Alpha Beta is also bowing the action pics "The Warrior King" and "Escape From S21."

"Ibiza" stars Gary Busey in an action comedy about a young American girl who inherits a rundown bar on Ibiza and becomes embroiled in a hostage rescue drama.

"Warrior King," now in production, is the story of a young prince whose family is murdered by an emperor. With the help of a magical wizard and a group of female gladiators, he wins back his kingdom.

"Escape From S21" is an action-adventure set in Cambodia. It's based on the true story of a young Khmer Rouge soldier who takes pity on a U.S. aid worker held prisoner at the S21 murder factory in Phnom Phen.