Variety
19th December 2007
Arts Alliance gets Sundance exclusive
Company lands homevideo distribution deal
By Dade Hayes
Arts Alliance America is now the exclusive distributor of Sundance Channel's homevid fare, including 100 titles from the library.
Pact includes a first-look deal for all Sundance original programming, such as the eight-part, Brett Morgen-created series "Nimrod Nation," and docs such as "Jam," the roller-derby pic that wowed auds at South by Southwest.
Also included is original series "Big Ideas for a Small Planet," which will be distributed in schools as part of Arts Alliance's ongoing educational outreach efforts. The 13-part docu series preemed last April and will return again next spring for a second season, spotlighting "green" designers, products and processes.
In many cases, Sundance titles will appear on DVD and on the channel day-and-date, or as close as possible.
Arts Alliance, in its previous incarnation as Hart Sharp Video, was one of several companies handling Sundance discs.
Laura Michalchyshyn, exec VP and general manager of programming and creative affairs at Sundance channel said the strong track record in indie homevid of Arts Alliance America prexy Joe Amodei drove the decision from the Sundance end.
To mark the new partnership, Arts Alliance is relaunching its existing library of 28 Sundance Channel titles, pricing them at $14.98. The total pool of Sundance library, dating to the channel's inception in 1996, includes "Scotland, Pa.," "The Hired Hand" and "Seeing Other People."