Levelfilm

Levelfilm

Levelfilm

Canadian Film Distribution Company

Levelfilm, stylized as levelFILM, is a Canadian film distribution company based in Toronto, Ontario. The company was founded by David Hudakoc and Michael Baker in 2013,[1] and later acquired two other Canadian distribution houses: Search Engine Films in 2018[2] and KinoSmith in 2021.[3] It has released more than 200 titles, with a focus on independent Canadian films.

Quick Facts Company type, Industry ...

History

levelFILM was founded by Michael Baker and David Hudakoc in August 2013, who had previously worked together at the U.S. distribution house ThinkFilm.[4] The company's first acquisition, Chen Kaige's Caught in the Web, was announced along with the company's creation.[1]

In 2017, the company sold a majority stake to Laurie Venning, a Canadian investor, entrepreneur, and producer.[5]

At the 2018 Berlin Film Festival levelFILM announced its acquisition of another Canadian distributor, Search Engine Films (SEF). John Bain, the head of SEF at the time, joined as the company's new Head of Distribution.[2] SEF's library was folded into levelFILM's existing catalogue, including titles such as Equals, Kilo Two Bravo, and Mary Shelley.

In 2019, it was announced that levelFILM and U.S.-based distributor Good Deed Entertainment had struck a four-year output deal, ending in 2023.[6]

At the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival levelFILM announced a multi-year output deal with the U.S. company Greenwich Entertainment, beginning with The Capote Tapes.[7] Later in the fall, levelFILM acquired KinoSmith, and folded in its CEO, Robin Smith, as the new Head of Factual. Simultaneously, the company partnered with Smith's other venture, the documentary financing and distribution house Blue Ice Docs, a subsidiary of the Blue Ice Group.[3]

In April 2022 the company was listed at number 9 in The Globe and Mail's list of the 22 most influential people in the Canadian film industry.[8]

During the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival levelFILM signed an exclusive output deal with Bleecker Street. Mafia Mamma, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is set to be the first release of the deal and is scheduled for April 2023.[9]

In October 2022, levelFILM released Eternal Spring, which was selected to be Canada's official submission to the 95th Academy Awards for the Best International Feature Film category.[10] The film was also eligible for Best Documentary and Best Animated Feature, but did not make the shortlist in either category.[11]

Released films

More information Year, Canadian Release Date ...

References

  1. [1]
    Ford, Rebecca (2013-08-15). "LevelFILM Launches With Acquisition of Chen Kaige's 'Caught in the Web'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  2. [2]
    Vlessing, Etan (2018-02-16). "Berlin: levelFilm Acquires Rival Indie Film Distributor Search Engine Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  3. [3]
    Kay, Jeremy (2021-10-06). "Toronto's levelFILM acquires KinoSmith, partners with Blue Ice Docs (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  4. [4]
    "The Children of ThinkFilm". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. [5]
    Lang, Brent (2017-09-07). "LevelFILM Sells Majority Stake to Laurie Venning (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  6. [6]
    Wiseman, Andreas (2019-02-07). "Canadian Distributor LevelFILM Strikes Output Deal With 'Loving Vincent' Firm Good Deed Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  7. [7]
    Wiseman, Andreas (2021-09-10). "'Free Solo' Distributor Greenwich Entertainment Sets Canadian Output Deal With LevelFILM — TIFF". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  8. [8]
    Hertz, Barry (2022-04-07). "The 22 most influential people in Canadian film". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  9. [9]
    Ravindran, Manori (2022-09-09). "Bleecker Street Signs Output Deal With Canada's LevelFilm". Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  10. [10]
    Tapp, Tom (2022-08-24). "Oscars: Canada Sets 'Eternal Spring' As Its Best International Feature Entry". Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  11. [11]
    Giardina, Carolyn (2022-11-09). "'Marcel the Shell With Shoes On' Qualifies for Oscars' Animated Feature Race (Exclusive)". Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  12. [12]
    N'Duka, Amanda (2017-05-30). "MUBI Picks Up 'Lover For A Day'; LevelFILM Nabs Three Titles – Cannes". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  13. [13]
    Frater, Patrick (2017-10-12). "LevelFilm Buys U.S. Rights to 'Never Steady, Never Still' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  14. [14]
    N'Duka, Amanda (2018-08-22). "levelFILM and Seville International Light Up 'Firecrackers' – Toronto". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  15. [15]
    Linden, Sheri (2019-11-27). "'The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  16. [16]
    Lang, Brent (2019-09-09). "Toronto: Bleecker Street Wins Rights to 'Military Wives'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  17. [17]
    Wiseman, Andreas (2021-02-02). "'Jump, Darling': First Trailer For Indie Drama Featuring Cloris Leachman In One Of Her Final Starring Roles". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  18. [18]
    Grater, Tom (2020-10-08). "LevelFILM Boards 6-Part Short Form LGBT Series 'I Am Syd Stone'". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  19. [19]
    Wiseman, Andreas (2021-03-10). "Canada Deal For Sundance 'Sesame Street' Doc; U.S. Deal For Doc 'It's Not A Burden' — North American Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  20. [20]
    Wiseman, Andreas (2021-02-01). "Sundance Comedy 'Together Together' Gets Canada Distribution Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  21. [21]
    Wiseman, Andreas (2020-12-15). "'Akilla's Escape' Canada Deal; Raw Hires BBC Studios Exec; Britbox UK First Factual Series — Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  22. [22]
    Dowling, Amber (2021-09-10). "'Scarborough' Gives Ground-Breaking Voice to Ignored Toronto Community". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  23. [23]
    Barraclough, Leo (2021-03-19). "Universal Takes International on 'Mr. Malcolm's List,' Zawe Ashton, Theo James and Ashley Park Join Cast". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  24. [24]
    Assman, Bowen (2022-10-27). "Penticton-set film, Drinkwater, in theatres this week". Kelowna Now. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  25. [25]
    Cowie, Del (2022-10-20). "Canadian Hip-Hop Landmark Play De Record Gets Its Due in 'Drop The Needle' Doc". Complex Canada. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  26. [26]
    Schneller, Johanna (2022-11-02). "The Swearing Jar is the Canadian rom-com success you didn't see coming". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  27. [27]
    Black, Sarah-Tai (2022-11-01). "Personal, intimate drama The Inspection offers nuanced look at sexuality in the military". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
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