Montreal: Alliance Atlantis Communications and Artisan Entertainment have announced an exclusive agreement renewing their 1998 output deal and providing aac with Canadian rights to all upcoming Artisan theatrical product for the theatrical, home video and tv markets for a period of three years.

The agreement also provides the Toronto-based distrib with Canadian rights for the next five years to Artisan’s 6,700-title film and tv library.

The renewal was announced Dec. 15 in New York by Artisan ceo Amir Malin, Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Group chairman Victor Loewy and Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution president Patrice Theroux, both based in Torornto.

In fiscal 2000, aac’s movie division generated 30% of the $771 million in total revenue, or 26% of the $179.2 million in gross profits.

aac’s distrib division also has long-term motion picture output agreements for Canada with Miramax Films, New Line Cinema, Destination Films, October Films and Fine Line Features. *

-www.artisanentertainment.com

-www.allianceatlantis.com