Viewpoints: acquisitions strategies

Terese Linden Kohn
Executive Vice President of Distribution
American World Pictures
United States

What are your acquisition strategies?   

American World Pictures looks first to the film's quality. Is it well made? Does the story move along? Are the characters engaging? Is it well acted and well directed? These are all part of the process in selecting a film to bring into American World Pictures. We are not, nor will be a "volume-sales" machine.

What programs are you looking for? 

We hand select each and every film based on its own merit and value. We are open to all genres... the first being the genre of quality. 

What foreign programs did you acquire this year? 

A critically acclaimed Austrian film directed by Joshua Sinclair entitled "Jump" starring Patrick Swayze, Ben Silverstone, and Martine McCutcheon.  A psychological drama revealing for the first time the extraordinary circumstances behind the unjust murder trial of the young Jew, Philippe Halsman, who would later become the most sought after celebrity portrait photographer of his generation. Set in 1928 Austria during the rise of fascism, the story documents the corrupt relationship between Philippe and his father, the events leading to his father's death, and focuses a sharp but delicate eye upon the anti-Semitic atmosphere that quickly led to Philippe's conviction.  In addition, "One Long Night" filmed in Mexico City starring Jon Seda, Alison Eastwood, Karen Black, and Ed Begley Jr., directed by David Siqueiros. 

What national programs did you acquire this year?  

The latest franchise from the writer/director of Leprechaun and Rumpelstiltskin "Triloquist" to be released in the US by the Weinstein Company, "The Last Sin Eater" from director Michael Landon Jr. starring Henry Thomas, Liana Liberato, Peter Wingfield, Elizabeth Lackey, Louise Fletcher, "Crazy 8's" a ghost thriller starring Dina Meyer, Frank Whaley, Traci Lords and Gabrielle Anwar, action thriller "Bone Dry" starring Lance Henriksen and Luke Goss directed by Brett A. Hart... just to mention a few.

What are your acquisition plans? 

merican World Pictures primary business is acquiring pictures for distribution from outside Producers. AWP recognizes that the film business around the world is in a constant state of change. Appetites for different types of films rise and fall, but one thing in the market continues unchanged; that is the demand for a quality film.