Exhibit 99.1
Image Entertainment and the Criterion Collection Sign New Multi Year
Exclusive Home Video Distribution Agreement for North America
Image's Exclusive Distribution Term Extended Through Mid-2013
CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 8, 2007--Image
Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DISK), a leading independent licensee,
producer and distributor of feature films and entertainment
programming in North America, today announced the signing of a new
exclusive home video distribution agreement for North America with the
Criterion Collection, extending the term through July 31, 2013. This
agreement replaces the existing exclusive distribution agreement dated
August 1, 2005.
The agreement provides Image with exclusive distribution rights to
all programming produced and released by Criterion for all video
formats, including kiosk-based DVD-burning initiatives. Criterion
retains broadcast and digital rights, although Image and Criterion
have agreed to cooperate on sales efforts in those formats.
David Borshell, Image's Chief Operating Officer, stated, "Image
and Criterion have been business partners for nearly 20 years and they
are a cornerstone of our distributed programming. We remain dedicated
to supporting Criterion's unmatched DVD productions and their desire
of providing cineastes with the ultimate home video experience."
Criterion's CEO, Jonathan Turell, said, "We're very happy with our
longstanding distribution relationship with Image and thrilled to have
solidified it for many years to come. Image represents us very well,
and they have a fantastic team of people committed to our mutual
success, and for that we thank them."
The Criterion Collection is dedicated to gathering the greatest
films from around the world and publishing them in DVD "special
editions" that offer the highest picture and audio quality and
award-winning original supplements including interviews with
producers, directors and talent, behind the scenes footage,
documentaries, featurettes and more. The Criterion Collection contains
film classics like Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and Ingmar Bergman's
The Seventh Seal as well as Frederico Fellini's 8 1/2 , Carol Reed's
The Third man, David Mamet's House of Games, Terrence Malick's Days of
Heaven and Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
In March 2007, Criterion introduced Eclipse, a selection of lost,
forgotten, or overshadowed classic films in simple, affordable box set
editions. Each release is a brief cinematheque retrospective for the
adventurous home viewer. The Eclipse line includes titles such as the
Early Bergman box set, a collection of 1940's films from one of the
great masters of cinema, Ingmar Bergman, The Documentaries of Louis
Malle, a collection of sought-after Malle documentaries, and the
upcoming release entitled Postwar Kurosawa, a collection of dramas
from renowned director Akira Kurosawa.
The Criterion Collection currently contains approximately 350
active DVD titles while Eclipse contains approximately 10 active DVD
titles. The Criterion Collection releases 3-4 new titles each month
and Eclipse releases 2-3 new series each quarter.
About Image Entertainment:
Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading independent licensee,
producer and distributor of feature films and entertainment
programming in North America, with approximately 3,000 exclusive DVD
titles and approximately 250 exclusive CD titles in domestic release
and approximately 450 programs internationally via sublicense
agreements. For many of its titles, the Company has exclusive audio
and broadcast rights and, through its subsidiary Egami Media, Inc.,
has digital download rights to approximately 2,000 video programs and
over 250 audio programs containing more than 4,000 tracks. The Company
is headquartered in Chatsworth, California. For more information about
Image Entertainment, Inc., please go to www.image-entertainment.com.
CONTACT: Image Entertainment, Inc.
Steven DeMille, 818-407-9100 ext. 213
sdemille@image-entertainment.com