'The Illusionist'
The Yari Film Group and Aurum, the Spanish distribution arm of the U.K.'s Momentum Pictures, have inked an exclusive three-year exclusive output deal.
Aurum will take all rights for Spain on films that YFG either produces or acquires over the next three years.
Deal kicked in last weekend with Aurum's release of "The Illusionist." Edward Norton starrer grossed e1.1 million ($1.4 million) to rank No. 2, notching up Spain's best weekend print average of $6,720.
Aurum will also handle "The Painted Veil"; the Miramax-sourced "The Hoax"; Griffin Dunne's "The Accidental Husband," with Uma Thurman; Sarah Michelle Gellar starrer "Addicted"; "Resurrecting the Champ," with Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett and Teri Hatcher; and "Crazy Dog," toplining Nicolas Cage, which is in pre-production.
Recently, Aurum competitors Tripictures and Manga Films were bought by local congloms Vocento and Avanzit.
But the YFG-Aurum deal has been in negotiations for months, before this round of media concentration went through, said Xavier Marchand, Aurum managing director and managing director of Momentum Europe. "What we need is strong product," he said.
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