FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Paul Haggis' "Third Person"
NEW YORK(November 7, 2013) - Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired US, German and Scandinavian rights to Paul Haggis' THIRD PERSON. Written and directed by Haggis, the film had its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival and features an all-star cast including Academy Award®-nominee Liam Neeson, Academy Award®-winner Kim Basinger, Academy Award®-winner Adrien Brody, Academy Award®-nominee James Franco, Olivia Wilde, Mila Kunis, and Maria Bello. Michael Nozik of Hwy61 and Haggis produced the film along with Paul Breuls of Corsan, who also provided the financing.
THIRD PERSON wends its way through three cities and three tales. The various stories, situated in Paris, Rome, and New York, are, at first glance, all separate, but Haggis effortlessly makes connections among them as the film unwinds, concentrating on three men and their romantic entanglements. Gradually, each one of these stories unveils its secrets, testifying to the whims and complexities of life. Surfaces are deceptive in the Haggis universe, but as each story is explored we discover untold pleasures and pains. Life is never easy: it can be deceptive, inhabited by anger and jealousy, but it can also be surprisingly joyous.
"The opportunity to work with the master himself - Paul Haggis - on creating an intelligent and intriguing relationship movie was an exceptional and fulfilling challenge for me. To see how this group of brilliant actors interpret the characters from the film, was an experience that far exceeded my expectations. I am thrilled to have Sony Pictures Classics as a partner and look forward to the continuation of a search for excellence, and the opportunity to work with the best in the business," said Paul Breuls.
"Michael and Tom have great instincts and all the right experience releasing smart, challenging films -- I'm thrilled Third Person found a home at Sony Pictures Classics," added Haggis.
Sony Pictures Classics added, "Paul Haggis is one of our great movie storytellers and Third Person is one of his best works featuring an exceptional cast led by Liam Neeson (also at his best). We are excited to bring Third Person to American audiences."
Sony Pictures Classics, CAA and Paradigm negotiated the deal.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.
Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 31 Academy Awards® (27 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 135 Academy Award® nominations (109 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, and CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com/.
ABOUT CORSAN
First set up in 1989 by Paul Breuls, Corsan is a fully integrated international film finance, production and sales company with its head office in Antwerp, Belgium.
Dubbed a 'Market-Stall Studio', Corsan finances, develops and produces English language films and handles international sales for up to four additional third party product per year.
Working with mid to big budgets, Corsan produces English language films covering a variety of genres to create strongly commercial films with worldwide appeal. Corsan qualifies for the Belgian Tax Shelter, leveraging it to raise its in-house film fund allowing full flexibility, independence and financial security.
Corsan World Sales is the in-house sales division of Corsan. Founded in 2007, it handles international sales of both in-house and third party productions.
Films produced by Corsan include Paul Haggis's Third Person starring Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody and James Franco; Mark Steven Johnson's Killing Season co-starring Robert De Niro and John Travolta; Roland Joffe's Singularity starring Josh Hartnett, Bipasha Basu and Tamsin Egergon and Lee Tamahori's Berlin and Sundance selected film The Devil's Double starring Dominic Cooper and Ludivine Sagnier.
Corsan has a full slate of titles for 2013/2014; In pre-production are Emperor and The Prince of Cool. In development are Expiration and Confessions of an Economic Hitman. Corsan has also partnered with Emmett Furla Films/ co financier for Silence (Martin Scorsese).
Press Contact:
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