UK sales and production outfit Moviehouse Entertainment is diversifying its operations with the launch of a distribution arm that will specialise in releasing music documentaries.

Teddy-Pendergrass-If-You-Don’t-Know-Me

Source: filmadelphia

‘Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me’

Moviehouse Music Distribution will work across theatrical, DVD releases and additional merchandise. The first title will be Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me, the story of the Philadelphia-born singer who looked set to become one of the biggest R&B artists of all time until a tragic accident changed his life. Pendergrass was the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums in the US, with hit singles including Don’t Leave Me This Way, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Love T.K.O and Close The Door.

The Storyvault Films productions is directed by Olivia Lichtenstein. It recently premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival, winning the event’s audience award.

The launch of the new wing by Moviehouse follows the company’s self-release of music doc Here To Be Heard: The Story Of The Slits, which it put into 25-30 UK cinemas this year. Moviehouse MD Mark Vennis said that the success from that release has given the company the confidence to set up the distribution-specific wing.

Moviehouse is also now producing a feature documentary, as well as a narrative feature film, about influential British band The Small Faces, based on Carol Harrison’s West End musical All Or Nothing The Mod Musical.

The company is on the lookout for more music docs at AFM this week. On its sales slate are titles including A War Story, about a with Pulitzer Prize winning CNN correspondent’s interview with Osama Bin Laden, Maxine Peake starrer Funny Cow, Cybill Shepherd and James Brolin road movie Rose, horror feature Sunburn, and UK thriller Two Graves, starring Dave Johns.