Producer Khaled Sabbour has formed independent film distribution outfit New Mountain Films.

The company will distribute films for the Canadian and U.S. markets, with former Entertainment One (eOne) exec Frank Mendicino leading its marketing strategy, according to a press release issued on Monday (Sept. 9).

New Mountain Films is backed by private and institutional financing, said the release. A slate of international sales titles will be announced in the coming weeks.

Mendicino formerly served as head of marketing at Alliance Atlantis and eOne, where he oversaw marketing for Canadian titles such as Paul Gross’s 2008 war film Passchendaele and Atom Egoyan’s 1997 drama The Sweet Hereafter. The 4K restoration of Egoyan’s film made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 5.

Sabbour is the founder of prodco and distributor East Liberty Entertainment. He has more than a decade of experience in business and development and branded content partnerships at companies such as former eOne subsidiary Force Four Entertainment and Saloon Media.

The new distributor is “dedicated to cultivating strong relationships with creatives and talent,” and aims to nurture “the next wave of influential films and filmmakers,” said Sabbour in a statement.

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