StudioCanal UK
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(May 2018) |
 Logo used since 2011 | |
| Formerly | |
|---|---|
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Film distributor |
| Predecessor | Canal+ Image(as a label in the UK) |
| Founded | 9 October 1998(As Tidalgate 2000 Limited)[1] |
| Headquarters | , England |
| Products | Feature films |
| Parent | StudioCanal |
| Subsidiaries | Elevation Sales (joint venture withLionsgate UK) |
| Website | studiocanal |
StudioCanal Limitedis the official branch ofStudioCanalin theBritish Isles.[2]The company releases many films, including foreign,anime(mostlyStudio Ghibli), independent,art,British, Irish and American films in the United Kingdom and sometimes Ireland.
History[edit]
Optimum Releasing (1999–2011)[edit]
The company was founded in October 1998, and began operation as Optimum Releasing in May 1999. The company, at the time, was exclusively a theatrical distributor, holding distribution of new releases and UK rights to the back catalogues of other companies. Optimum's first theatrical release was a restored version ofThe Third Man,licensed fromLe Studio Canal+,and was released in July of that year, on the same weekend as the anticipated UK release ofStar Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.[3]
The company launched a Home Entertainment division in 2004,[4]and released material under several banners:
- Optimum Home Entertainment (Used for mainstream DVD and Blu-Ray releases)
- Optimum Classic (Used for re-releases of back catalogue films)
- Optimum World (Used forworld cinemareleases)
- Optimum Asia (Used for Asian &Animereleases)
Optimum released over two hundred films a year and were one of the most prominent distributors in the independent film and world cinema market in the United Kingdom since the closure ofTartan Filmsin June 2008. In May 2006, Optimum Releasing was acquired by French film producer and distributorStudioCanal,a subsidiary ofVivendi'sCanal+ Group,for £22-25 million, marking a re-entry into an international market for StudioCanal.[5]Since then, StudioCanal now releases films from their back catalogue including those from theCarolco PicturesandEMI Filmslibraries through Optimum Releasing under the Optimum Classic banner.
Some of the last titles released under the Optimum Releasing name includeKill List,The Guard,and a re release ofWhisky Galore!.[6]
StudioCanal UK (2011–present)[edit]
In September 2011, Optimum Releasing was rebranded under theStudioCanalname.Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,Tyrannosaur,Don't Be Afraid of the Dark,The Awakening,andW.E.were among the first films released under the new name.[6]
In December 2022, the company suedWild Bunch Internationalover their British/IrishStudio Ghiblicontract, citifying that Wild Bunch International's deal withNetflixfor the Ghibli catalogue breached an agreement over standalone streaming rights where Wild Bunch claimed that "non-internet" steaming platforms "don't exist". WBI counter-sued StudioCanal UK, where they citified that their distribution deal was recouping distribution expenses against all forms of distribution, and not theatrical as they originally claimed.[7]As of 2023 with the release ofThe Boy and the Heron,Elysian Film Group officially took over as Ghibli's distributor in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
StudioCanal UKdistributed the release of theAmy WinehousebiopicBack to Black(2024), directed bySam Taylor-Johnsonwho previously didFifty Shades Of Grey(2015). The film was released on 12 April 2024.[8]
References[edit]
- ^abc"Studiocanal Limited overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".Companies House.9 October 1998.Retrieved25 February2024.
- ^Hopewell, John (30 June 2011)."StudioCanal rebrands Optimum, Kinowelt".Variety.Retrieved12 May2018.
- ^"Harry in the shadow".TheGuardian.com.10 July 1999.
- ^"StudioCanal to acquire UK distributor Optimum Releasing".
- ^James, Alison; Dawtrey, Adam (7 May 2006)."Studio Canal moves into Blighty".Variety.Retrieved4 September2011.
- ^ab"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 26 September 2011.Retrieved10 September2011.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^Yossman, K.J. (21 December 2022)."Studiocanal Launches Legal Battle Over Studio Ghibli Netflix Deal".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 19 March 2023.
- ^Kroll, Justin (11 July 2022)."Amy Winehouse Biopic 'Back To Black' Moving Forward At Studiocanal With Sam Taylor-Johnson Directing".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved11 July2022.
External links[edit]
- Official website
- Official history(archived);current version
- List of film creditsfromInternet Movie Database
| Directors | |
|---|---|
| Groupe Canal+ | |
| Vivendi Ticketing |
|
| Prisma Media | |
| Havas | |
| Other assets | |
| Equity investments |
|
| Defunct/former assets | |
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