Alliance Films

Alliance Films was a Canadian motion-picture distribution and production company whose business was built around acquiring, packaging, marketing and releasing films outside the United States and in selected international territories. Its principal markets were Canada and the United Kingdom, with additional activity in Spain through Aurum Producciones. The company was particularly important as a distributor of independent and specialty films, supplying theatrical releases, home-entertainment products and television-related content through regional networks rather than functioning solely as a conventional Hollywood-style studio. The company’s roots predated the Alliance Films name. Robert Lantos established Vivafilm in 1972, while Stephen J. Roth and associates developed RSL Films, later RSL Entertainment Corporation. International Cinema Corporation, founded by National Film Board of Canada executives and later associated with Denis Héroux, provided another part of the corporate lineage. In 1984, RSL Entertainment and International Cinema Corporation merged to form Alliance Entertainment, with financing support from New Century Entertainment’s SLM Productions. The resulting company initially combined film and television production with distribution and developed projects for Canadian broadcasters, American networks and cable outlets. Alliance expanded through acquisitions and partnerships. It acquired the Montreal francophone distributor Vivafilm in 1990 and operated the business as Alliance-Vivafilm or Alliance Vivafilm. It launched the sales arm Le Monde Entertainment in 1993, entered broadcasting through interests associated with Showcase and History Television in the mid-1990s, and acquired assets from Norstar Entertainment, including library titles. The company also developed a United Kingdom presence through Alliance Releasing UK, a joint venture with Electric Pictures, and acquired American television producer Citadel Entertainment in 1997. A 1998 merger with Atlantis Communications created Alliance Atlantis Communications, a broader media group whose interests included film, television production, broadcasting and distribution. In 2003, Alliance Atlantis separated its theatrical distribution activities and the British subsidiary Momentum Pictures into Motion Picture Distribution LP, an income-fund structure in which Alliance Atlantis retained a controlling economic interest. When Alliance Atlantis was dismantled in 2007, the motion-picture distribution business was acquired by EdgeStone Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs Alternatives and relaunched under the Alliance Films name. Alliance Films was headquartered in Montreal’s Quartier International and continued to distribute independent, studio and specialty titles. Its activities included theatrical distribution, DVD and television-on-DVD releases, regional rights management and a limited slate of co-productions. The company’s production and co-production credits included films such as The Rocket, Passchendaele, Stone of Destiny, Prom Night, Insidious, Wanderlust, Sinister and Dark Skies, although distribution remained its defining business. It also expanded its home-video operation around 2010, releasing Canadian and co-produced television series on DVD. In 2011, Alliance acquired Maple Pictures from Lionsgate for approximately C$38.5 million, strengthening its Canadian distribution position; this is a reported transaction value rather than a measure of Alliance’s revenue. Entertainment One announced its agreement to acquire Alliance Films in 2012 and completed the transaction on January 9, 2013. Victor Loewy left the chief executive role at closing, and Entertainment One stated that it would retire the Alliance name in favor of the eOne banner, with Les Films Séville used in Quebec. Alliance Films therefore ceased to exist as an independent operating brand. Its catalogue and related rights subsequently became part of changing Entertainment One and later Lionsgate and Hasbro asset portfolios, depending on the category and transaction involved.

Alliance Films developed from several Canadian film and television businesses. Vivafilm was established by Robert Lantos in 1972, RSL Films was formed by Stephen J. Roth and associates in 1975, and International Cinema Corporation emerged from a documentary and feature-film operation founded by National Film Board of Canada executives. In 1984, RSL Entertainment Corporation merged with International Cinema Corporation to create Alliance Entertainment, with financing from New Century Entertainment’s SLM Productions. During the 1980s, Alliance combined production and distribution. It developed television films, miniseries and series for Canadian broadcasters and American networks, including projects associated with CTV, HBO, ABC, CBS and NBC. An attempted 1987 merger with Robert Cooper Productions was abandoned, although the companies collaborated on a production. Susan Cavan subsequently became president after Roth moved toward industry consulting. Alliance expanded its corporate and geographic footprint in the 1990s. It acquired Vivafilm in 1990, creating the Alliance-Vivafilm francophone business, and launched Le Monde Entertainment as a sales arm in 1993. It entered broadcasting through Showcase and History Television, acquired selected Norstar Entertainment assets and library titles, and formed Alliance Releasing UK with Electric Pictures in 1997. Later that year it acquired Citadel Entertainment from owners associated with Home Box Office and Anglia Television. The 1998 merger with Atlantis Communications created Alliance Atlantis Communications. In 2003, Alliance Atlantis reorganized its theatrical and United Kingdom distribution assets into Motion Picture Distribution LP. Alliance Atlantis retained a 51 percent interest while the Movie Distribution Income Fund held the remainder, although Alliance Atlantis continued to control the general-partner structure. Following the breakup of Alliance Atlantis in 2007, the distribution partnership was bought by EdgeStone Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs Alternatives and relaunched as Alliance Films. The renamed company operated from Montreal and distributed films in Canada, the United Kingdom and Spain. It worked with independent producers and numerous rights holders, while its subsidiaries included Alliance Vivafilm, Alliance Home Entertainment, Momentum Pictures and Aurum Producciones. Alliance also undertook selective production and co-production, including Passchendaele, Stone of Destiny, Prom Night, Insidious, Wanderlust, Sinister and Dark Skies. Around 2010 it increased releases of television series on DVD, especially Canadian productions and co-productions. Alliance purchased Maple Pictures from Lionsgate in 2011. In 2012, Entertainment One announced an agreement to acquire Alliance Films, and the transaction closed on January 9, 2013. Victor Loewy stepped down as chief executive, and eOne stated that Alliance would be phased out in favor of the eOne name, with Les Films Séville serving the Quebec market. Alliance Films consequently became part of eOne’s film operations rather than continuing as an independent brand.

• 2013

  Entertainment One completes acquisition

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  eOne completed its acquisition and announced that the Alliance brand would be phased out.

• 2011

  Maple Pictures is acquired

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Alliance bought Maple Pictures from Lionsgate for a reported C$38.5 million.

• 2010

  Home-video television strategy expands

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Alliance increased its television-on-DVD activity, with an emphasis on Canadian series and co-productions.

• 2007

  Alliance Films is relaunched

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  After Alliance Atlantis was broken up, the motion-picture distribution business was acquired by EdgeStone and Goldman Sachs Alternatives and relaunched as Alliance Films.

• 2003

  Motion Picture Distribution LP is created

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The theatrical and United Kingdom distribution operations were placed in a separate income-fund business.

• 1998

  Alliance merges with Atlantis Communications

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  The merger created Alliance Atlantis Communications, a diversified Canadian media group.

• 1990

  Vivafilm is acquired

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Alliance acquired the Montreal francophone distributor Vivafilm and operated it as Alliance-Vivafilm.

• 1984

  Alliance Entertainment is formed

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  RSL Entertainment Corporation and International Cinema Corporation merged to create Alliance Entertainment.

• 1972

  Vivafilm is established

  [1]Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Lantos formed Vivafilm, one of the predecessor businesses in Alliance’s corporate history.

Independent and specialty film distributor with integrated theatrical, home-entertainment, production and international rights capabilities

• Film distribution · 1984

  Theatrical film distribution

  Alliance acquired or represented film rights and planned releases through cinema networks, particularly in Canada and the United Kingdom. Its catalogue included independent, specialty and selected studio-associated titles, with regional marketing and release management forming the core of the business.

• Home entertainment

  Alliance Home Entertainment

  The home-entertainment division released feature films and television series on DVD. From around 2010, it expanded its television-on-DVD programme, with many releases drawn from Canadian productions or Canadian co-productions.

• Francophone film distribution · 1990

  Alliance Vivafilm

  Alliance Vivafilm was the company’s Quebec-focused French-language film business. It handled production and distribution of francophone feature films and was later folded into Les Films Séville after Entertainment One acquired Alliance.

• United Kingdom film distribution

  Momentum Pictures

  Momentum Pictures was Alliance’s United Kingdom distribution operation. It originated within the Alliance Atlantis distribution structure and handled theatrical and related releases in the British market.

• Spain film distribution

  Aurum Producciones

  Aurum Producciones served as Alliance’s Spanish subsidiary and extended the group’s distribution presence into Spain.

• Film production

  Film co-productions

  Although distribution was the company’s main activity, Alliance participated in selected productions and co-productions, including Passchendaele, Stone of Destiny, Prom Night, Insidious, Wanderlust, Sinister and Dark Skies.

• 2010Television-on-DVD expansion

  Canada

  Alliance promoted a broader home-video programme for television series, releasing more than 20 series according to the reference account and focusing heavily on Canadian productions and co-productions.

  Outcome. The initiative broadened Alliance’s home-entertainment catalogue before the company was absorbed into Entertainment One.

  Source
• 2010Blumhouse low-budget horror partnership

  Canada · United States

  Alliance partnered with Jason Blum and Blumhouse Productions on low-budget horror projects, beginning with Insidious and continuing with Sinister and Dark Skies.

  Outcome. The partnership produced several commercially distributed genre titles before Alliance’s 2013 absorption into eOne.

  Source

• 2013

  Acquire Alliance Films and retire the brandM&A

  Background

  Entertainment One aimed to expand its film-distribution business through the acquisition of Alliance Films.

  Action taken

  eOne completed the acquisition on January 9, 2013, after which Victor Loewy left as chief executive and eOne announced a transition to the eOne brand.

  Aftermath

  Alliance Films ceased operating as an independent market-facing brand; the Quebec business was subsequently associated with Les Films Séville.

  Source

• 2011

  Acquire Maple PicturesM&A

  Background

  Alliance sought to strengthen its Canadian film-distribution platform and acquire assets from Lionsgate.

  Action taken

  Alliance Films purchased Maple Pictures for a reported C$38.5 million.

  Aftermath

  Maple Pictures’ operations became part of Alliance before Alliance itself was acquired by Entertainment One.

  Acquisition price. C$38.5 million (2011)

  Source

• 2003

  Separate theatrical distribution into Motion Picture Distribution LPStrategy

  Background

  Alliance Atlantis sought to place its theatrical and United Kingdom distribution activities in an income-fund structure while retaining control.

  Action taken

  The distribution activities, including Momentum Pictures, were transferred into Motion Picture Distribution LP, with Alliance Atlantis retaining a 51 percent stake and control of the general partner.

  Aftermath

  The structure remained the basis of the distribution business until Alliance Atlantis was dismantled in 2007.

  Source

1. 1Alliance Filmsen.wikipedia.org