August 19, 2014Cinedigm Acquires Home Entertainment Rights to THE IDENTICAL Cinedigm takes US rights to City of Peaces star-studded faith and family film featuring Ashley Judd, Amanda Crew, Seth Green, Joe Pantoliano and Ray Liotta
The film will have a theatrical release on September 5th
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cinedigm (NASDAQ: CIDM) has acquired US rights to City of Peaces star-studded faith and family friendly film THE IDENTICAL, featuring Ashley Judd, Amanda Crew, Seth Green, Joe Pantoliano and Ray Liotta. The film is being released theatrically on September 5th on a targeted 1,200 screens. The home entertainment roll out, including physical, digital, television and non-theatrical rights, is set to launch January 2015.
Directed by Dustin Marcellino, THE IDENTICAL tells the compelling story of twin brothers unknowingly separated at birth during the Great Depression. Drexel Hemsley (Blake Rayne) becomes an iconic 50s rock n roll star, while Ryan Wade (Blake Rayne) struggles to balance his love for music and pleasing his father. The Reverend Wade (Ray Liotta) and his wife (Ashley Judd) are sure their adopted son has been gifted and called by God to be a preacher. But Ryan challenges his parents vision for his life, and unflinchingly chooses to launch his own music career with his best friend (Seth Green). Encouraged by his wife (Erin Cottrell) and employer (Joe Pantoliano), Ryan embarks on an unpredictable and provocative path -- performing the legendary music of Drexel Hemsley in sold out venues all across the country -- setting into action a series of events that ultimately lead him to question everything hes ever believed about God, family and his own identity.
We believe the film will resonate deeply with audiences seeking uplifting, family and faith friendly entertainment, said Yolanda Macias, Executive Vice President of Acquisitions, Forecast Planning & Digital Sales for Cinedigm. With the films unique story, talented actors and fantastic soundtrack, we immediately wanted to partner with City of Peace in bringing THE IDENTICAL to the marketplace.
Cinedigms expertise in technology and digital content distribution clearly makes them the Industry leader and an excellent complement to our City of Peace Films business model. We are very pleased to be partnering with such an innovative and progressive company as Cinedigm as we forge forward into the future, said Don Noes, City of Peace Films Producer and COO/New Business Development.
THE IDENTICAL is a City of Peace Films production featuring the talents of three generations of the Marcellino family from Nashville, TN. Jerry Marcellino co-wrote the 22 plus original songs with his son Yochanan, who is the founder of City of Peace Films. Dustin Marcellino, Yochanans son, makes his feature film debut as director, and his brother Jordan Marcellino is a co-producer on the film. Yochanan and Don Noes are the two men who propelled the movie to the big screen by raising the production funding and the films marketing budget.
The deal was negotiated by Cinedigms Yolanda Macias with Jerry Dasti of Sloss, Eckhouse LawCo and Michael Helfant of Amasia Entertainment representing the filmmakers.
About City of Peace/A Framework Where Music, Films And Video With Redeeming Value Can Be Developed:
Yochanan Marcellino is the Founder, President and CEO of City of Peace Media and City of Peace Films, formed in 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. Both companies, though separate corporations, consider themselves sister companies and beautifully complement one another by offering the prospective artist a unique set of creative services.
Whether or not an artist is an entertainment industry veteran, new and emerging, or in the beginning stages of development, these creative services can be offered a la carte or as a full service package, tailored to meet the changing needs and challenges of the 21st century artist, says thirty-five-year music industry veteran Marcellino.
City of Peace Media and City of Peace Films includes, but is not limited to, the following list of creative services: major physical and digital distribution, record production, artist management, artist development, music publishing, song development, art direction, graphic design, website development, music video production, film production and film development. City of Peace Media also consults in the following strategic areas: marketing plan development, public relations planning, radio promotion, publicity, advertising, touring and name branding.
The primary focus of City of Peace Media and City of Peace Films is to provide a framework where music, films and video with redeeming value can be developed, produced and distributed worldwide, bringing a message of hope, love and encouragement to this generation.
About Cinedigm:
Cinedigm is a leading independent content distributor in the United States, with direct relationships with over 60,000 physical retail storefronts and digital platforms, including Wal-Mart, Target, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon, as well as the national Video on Demand platform on cable television. The companys library of over 52,000 films and TV episodes encompasses award-winning documentaries from Docurama Films , next-gen Indies from Flatiron Film Company , acclaimed independent films and festival picks through partnerships with the Sundance Institute and Tribeca Films and a wide range of content from brand name suppliers, including National Geographic, Discovery, Scholastic, WWE, NFL, Shout Factory, Hallmark, Jim Henson and more.
Additionally, given Cinedigms infrastructure, technology, content and distribution expertise, the company has rapidly become a leader in the quickly evolving over-the-top digital network business. Cinedigms first channel, DOCURAMA, launched in May 2014, and is currently available on over 165 million consumer de
