Sales Success Of Millennium Films Continues

Zodiak International has announced that it has closed a significant deal with UGC in France for the new productions of Stieg Larsson's three best-selling books in the 'Millennium' series, created by production company Tellow Bird.
UGC has acquired the cinematic, TV and DVD rights to distribute both the feature film and the TV series in France and some French speaking territories, with the cinematic release expected next year.
UGC is one of the most important cinema groups in Europe, involved in aspects of the cinema business including exhibition, distribution and production.
Yellow Bird is producing a feature film based on the first book 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', as well as six television films based on the entire 'Millennium' trilogy. The TV films based on the third book are currently being shot in Sweden.
Mikael Wallén, CEO of Yellow Bird, said: "The 'Millennium' series of books is one of the most read in the world today and we are delighted to be creating cinema and television films which we know will have such strong appeal."
Jorg Roth, Managing Director of Zodiak International, added: "As we establish ourselves as a leading distributor of high-end drama, we are pleased to announce this substantial deal with UGC. The strong potential of 'Millennium' as well as the new 'Wallander' series, also produced by Yellow Bird' gives as an exceptional start in this challenging market."
Brigitte Maccioni, Head of the Production and Distribution Department at UGC, commented on the announcment, saying: "We are very pleased to have acquired the eagerly awaited 'Millennium' feature film and TV series. The 'Millennium' series of books is extremely popular in France - having sold more than two million copies - and French audiences are extremely impatient to discover them on screen."
Zodiak International, which recently announced that Italy's top film distributor BIM Distribuzione has acquired the Millennium films, is also in negotiations with several other countries.
Meanwhile, Yellow Bird is shooting the TV films based on the third book in the 'Millennium' trilogy. In Sweden and Denmark, the 'Millennium' feature film premiers in cinemas during February 2009.
(KMcA)