The UK's Entertainment Film Distributors has seen its post tax profits leap almost threefold to $61.5m (£32.6m) in the year to March 31, 2003, according to recent documents filed at official UK business registry, Companies House.

The $61.5m figure compares to a post-tax profit of $24.5 for the year to March 31 2002.

Entertainment's turnover soared to $237.3m from $147.8m the year before. Operating profit stood at $86m compared to $34.1m.

The profits would have been fuelled by theatrical revenues for blockbusters released by Entertainment up to March 2003, including The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, The Gangs Of New York, Final Destination 2, Austin Powers In Goldmember and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Video revenues from titles such as the first Lord Of The Rings, Gosford Park and Blade 2 would have also significantly boosted Entertainment's bottom line.

Exchange rate: £1 = $1.8880.

For the full story about Entertainment, see this week's special feature in Screen International print edition.