Lakeshore Entertainment is moving ahead with its production ambitions following a deal with Vine Alternative Investments Group that will see the parties co-finance 12 upcoming Lakeshore features.
Laura Austin-Little, the newly appointed head of international sales and acquisitions who arrived from Annapurna International, will oversee sales with svp of international sales Jason Buckley.
The move means Lakeshore will phase out its long collaboration with Sierra/Affinity, although the latter will continue to handle existing titles like The Age Of Adaline, the Blake Lively starrer that Lionsgate will open in the US on April 25.
The co-financing pact expands Lakeshore CEO Tom Rosenberg’s (pictured) relationship with Vine, the New York-based asset management firm that has invested in Lakeshore’s capital structure for a number of years.
Lakeshore will continue to finance production and distribution, including US P&A on its film slate, via its credit facility led by JPMorgan Chase Bank.
“Vine is a highly respected financial institution and they’re also one of the most creative financial partners in the business,” said Rosenberg. “We look forward to producing a slate of premiere motion pictures with experienced partners who continue to innovate in the film finance space.”
“We are very pleased to be expanding our relationship with Lakeshore to help drive the company’s growth,” said Vine’s Jim Moore. “Their long, successful history managing both the creative and financial aspects of this business make them ideal partners for Vine’s creative capital solutions.”
Lakeshore COO Eric Reid and CFO Marc Reid concluded the deal with Vine.
The Lakeshore slate includes Philip Roth adaptation American Pastoral that marks Ewan McGregor’s directorial debut and begins shooting in September, as well as the fifth Underworld instalment.
The Boy is in production with STX Entertainment and The Vatican Tapes is scheduled to open via Lionsgate on July 24.
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