Home Entertainment
May 3, 2007
Academy Award® Winning Producer Saul Zaentz Extends Global Distribution Agreement With Warner Home Video
(May 3, 2007 - Burbank, CA) — Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video (WHV), announced today that the group has signed a 5-year extension to its global distribution agreement with Academy Award®-winning producer Saul Zaentz. Through this renewal WHV will continue to distribute films produced by Zaentz, including two Best Picture Oscar recipients: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975) and “Amadeus” (1984).
In 1996 Zaentz was honored by the Academy with the lifetime achievement Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award that recognizes producers who consistently create exemplary work. He is also the recipient of the 2003 Academy Fellowship presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to individuals for their career achievements.
“Warner respects the passion I hold for my films and I am very comfortable with our relationship,” said Zaentz. “I am appreciative of the studio’s overall dedication to marketing and promoting my films and I look forward to continuing our partnership.”
“Saul is rightly heralded as one of the greatest independent producers in the business. He is committed to making quality films for the ages,” said Ron Sanders. “Our decade-long partnership has been tremendously rewarding, and by distributing some of his greatest films in high definition we’ll ensure the best home entertainment viewing experience for a new generation of fans.”
Under this new agreement, WHV is scheduled to release both “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Amadeus” in the U.S. on HD DVD and Blu-ray in February 2008 to coincide with the 80th Academy Awards®. This will mark the first release of these Academy Award®-winning films in high definition format which provides beautifully vibrant contrast and color and extraordinarily crisp sound. WHV’s support of both the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats ensures that any high definition-enabled household will have the opportunity to enjoy these enhanced versions.
Zaentz also won a Best Picture Oscar for “The English Patient” (1996) and recently produced the upcoming “Goya's Ghost” (2007), directed by long-time collaborator Milos Forman. He is also known for such acclaimed films as “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” (1988), “The Mosquito Coast” (1986) and the popular animated version of “The Lord of the Rings” (1978).
With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.# # #