'Lost in Beijing' was distributed by New Yorker Films.
Iconic indie film distributor New Yorker Films, a specialist in handling foreign films, has closed down.
The boutique label, which got its start by distribbing Bernardo Bertolucci's "Before the Revolution," made the announcement Monday in a brief statement on its website.
"After 43 years in business, New Yorker Films has ceased operations," the statement said. "We would like to thank the filmmakers and producers who trusted us with their work, as well as our customers, whose loyalty has sustained us through the years."
The company was founded in 1965 by Dan Talbot, who was still heading it along with Jose Lopez.
Bingham Ray, one of many New Yorker alums, said the shuttering's a major loss to the business. "If I have any taste at all, it's due to what I learned from Dan and Jose, who are my mentors," Ray told
Daily Variety.
Others who worked for New Yorker include Jeff Lipsky, John Vanco, Susan Wrubel, Mary Ann Hult, Reid Rosefelt, Mark Lipsky, Sasha Berman, Suzanne Fedak, Amy Heller, Rebecca Conget and Harris Dew.
New Yorker Films distribbed Jean-Luc Godard's "Les Carabiniers," Jacques Rivette's "Celine and Julie Go Boating," Claude Lanzmann's "Shoah," Werner Herzog's "Aguirre, the Wrath of God" and Michael Cuesta's "L.I.E." Recent titles have included South Korean pic "Woman on the Beach" and Chinese title "Lost in Beijing."
Rosefelt noted that Talblot's track record in choosing films is stellar.
"No one has better taste than Dan," he added. "He is a national treasure. And so is New Yorker Films. (You'll never get me to say "was")."
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com