Robert Lantos and Patrice Théroux are getting back into the movie releasing game together after unveiling Wednesday an agreement for Maximum Film Distribution and Seville Pictures to jointly release titles from Magnolia Pictures and HDNet Films in Canada.

‘This arrangement makes good business sense. I am thrilled that we are acquiring these films from Magnolia/HDNet, as it extends a great partnership with Magnolia, with whom we had a growing relationship,’ says David Reckziegel, co-president of Seville, which was acquired by Entertainment One, headed by Théroux, in August.

Théroux explains that Seville and Maximum Film — Lantos’ newly launched Canadian distribution division — were both looking to become the Canadian partner for Magnolia and HDNet. To avoid bidding up the price for the rights to titles, Maximum and Seville chose to join forces.

The multi-picture deal will start with Brian De Palma’s Redacted and the Doug Pray surfing documentary Surfwise, both of which will screen at the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Michael Caine and Demi Moore-starring Flawless.

Théroux insists the Magnolia/HDNet deal is not a precursor to Entertainment One eventually bidding to wrest away output deals from rival Motion Picture Distribution, including its tie-ups with New Line Cinema and Focus Features.

Instead, he argues that Entertainment One is looking to build a presence in international sales markets, of which Canada is only one part.

At the same time, he says he welcomes working with Lantos once again after his 10-year tenure at Alliance Communications, which later became Alliance Atlantis Communications.

‘We all hope that this deal will be another stepping stone to a promising future,’ he says.

For his part, Lantos adds: ‘Films of quality and originality are the ones that interest and inspire me. So I look forward to working with Magnolia and HDNet Films, whose vision is so clearly consistent with my own.’