PATHE AND SKY PICTURES SIGN AGREEMENT

PATHÉ and Sky Pictures have signed a production and distribution agreement to strengthen their place in the British film industry.
The deal will include up to eight films over the next two years, selected jointly by the two companies. Pathé will handle distribution in the UK, France, the Benelux and Switzerland and will also handle international sales throughout the rest of the world.
François Ivernel, Managing Director of Pathé, said: “Pathé and Sky have had a close working relationship since the days when Pathé were shareholders in BSkyB. That relationship has continued through the operation of our Pay TV Output Deal. As the common goal of both our companies is to make quality films with commercial appeal, this strengthened partnership is a perfect match”.
William Turner, Head of Sky Pictures, said: “This is a powerful European alliance which will allow Sky to co-invest with a first-rate production and distribution entity and co-produce commercially oriented British feature films”
Pathe Pictures is a fully integrated production and distribution company, developing, producing and releasing a wide range of films in the UK. Pathe received an Arts Council of England lottery franchise in 1997. (CD)