Independent production and distribution company Cinepix Film Properties has been renamed Lions Gate Films following the purchase of the company last year by Vancouver’s Frank Giustra, chairman and ceo of Lions Gate Entertainment.
Former cfp executive vp Jeff Sackman has been named president of Lions Gate Films and cfp founders Andre Link and John Dunning will retain their positions as ceo and chairman, respectively, of the renamed company.
Lions Gate Films now maintains several operating divisions, including Lions Gate Productions, Lions Gate Releasing, Lions Gate International, Lions Gate Home Entertainment, Les Films Lions Gate and Avalanche Home Entertainment.
The name change will not affect day-to-day operations of cfp. Rather it will clearly identify the company under the Lions Gates Entertainment banner (which also includes Lions Gate Studios and Mandalay Television). However, cfp will now have greater access to financing from Lions Gate, which includes over $120 million raised in 1997 from stock offering and by Giustra independently.
With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and Montreal, Lions Gate Films is a producer and distributor of films in Canada, the u.s. and international markets. The company is currently in production on four projects with combined budgets of $40 million-plus: Johnny Skidmarks starring Frances McDormand, John Lithgow and Peter Gallagher; Vig, a drama scripted by Paul Hapenny starring Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton Colm Meany, and Peter Falk; Hi-Life starring Eric Stoltz and Darryl Hannah; and Dog Park starring Janeane Garafolo and Natasha Henstridge, with Bruce McCulloch (Kids In The Hall) directing.
Lions Gate Entertainment also has a new cfo, Gordon Lancaster, and author/historian Peter Newman has been made a director of the corporation.
Prior to joining Lions Gate, Lancaster served as senior vp and cfo of the Vancouver International Airport Authority. Lancaster takes over from Robert Kidd, who continues to serve as a consultant on special projects.
Newman, senior contributing editor at Maclean’s magazine, has penned 12 major tv programs.
Lions Gate also reports that talks with a major Hollywood studio on a production and distribution agreement have been extended until Feb. 28.