Canadian entertainment companies Lions Gate Films and TVA Films have formed a joint venture to share distribution operations in English Canada. The new entity, JV Media, will handle theatrical, video/DVD and television product with a staff from both companies.

Headquartered in Toronto, JV Media will be headed by Lions Gate's Brad Pelman with oversight by LA-based Lions Gate execs Wayne Levin and Laurie May and TVA Films's Montreal-based president Pierre Lampron and executive vice-president Marie-Claude Poulin.

Poulin told Screendaily that JV mirrors Topaze Communications, a joint venture TVA entered in April 2002 with Montreal-based Christal Films to share French-language distribution in Canada.

The first LGF titles on JV Media's slate include Nicole Holefcener's Lovely And Amazing and James Foley's Confidence. TVA titles include Roman Polanski's Palme D'Or winner The Pianist, Walter Hill's Undisputed with Wesley Snipes, and Marleen Gorris' Carolina.

In July, the new venture will service the parent companies' DVD and video releases. In all, JV will tap a combined library of more than 6,800 titles, 1,800 from Lions Gate and 5,000 from TVA.