Kino, Lorber join forces to establish Kino Lorber Inc

Lorber chief Richard Lorber and Kino founder Donald Krim will each serve as co-presidents and will continue to release six to eight films a year under each of the Kino International Films and Lorber Films banners. The parties expect to release up to 60 digital and DVD titles a year.

Each principal will remain primarily responsible for acquisitions for their ongoing pipelines, however Krim will guide the traditional distribution operations for the new entity while Lorber will be charged with business development and corporate strategy. Staff from both companies will stay on, working out of Kino’s current offices in New York.

The entity will continue to run a multi-platform distribution operation for classic and contemporary world cinema and documentaries and explore digital and direct-to-consumer physical distribution.

Kino Lorber’s theatrical slate will launch imminently with Alexander Sokurov’s The Sun and Swiss Oscar submission Home starring Isabelle Huppert, both from the Lorber Films stable.

Kino’s early 2010 theatrical releases include the Israeli Oscar submission Ajami (pictured) and this year’s Un Certain regard winner Dogtooth.

In spring Kino will launch in theatres the restored Metropolis including 30 minutes of newly found footage. The new company’s DVD slate includes Tony Manero, As It Is In Heaven, Ballast, Buster Keaton’s The General, and Videocracy.

“The chance to join operations with my good friend Richard Lorber, to strengthen our position as a buyer of films and as a seller to the new digital distribution channels is a natural step forward for Kino and in our new combination as Kino Lorber one that I believe will have great benefit for us and the talented filmmakers whose work we represent,” Krim said.

“I’ve happily built my career with partners and I’m proud again to prove the truth of synergy as I move the Lorber businesses forward with my long-time friend Don Krim,” Lorber said. “Our optimally scaled operation will have the fuel reserves of a great, large library powering a high performance entrepreneurial engine.”