For Immediate Release, Please: NEXT WAVE FILMS LAUNCHES AGENDA 2000 TO PRODUCE DIGITAL FEATURE FILMS SANTA MONICA, CA January 18, 1999 - The Independent Film Channel's Next Wave Films today announced that it has established a production arm to make features exclusively on digital video (DV). Agenda 2000 is the first major initiative designed to regularly finance and produce digital features for wide release. "Recent breakthroughs in digital technologies have made it possible to shoot features on DV that will receive worldwide theatrical distribution," according to Peter Broderick, President of Next Wave Films. For example, a recent film shot entirely on a tiny DV camera is the critically acclaimed The Celebration, which is currently in distribution in over 20 countries, and received the Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. In keeping with the tradition of Next Wave Films and inspired by Dogma 95, Agenda 2000 will utilize digital technologies to expand opportunities for independent filmmakers. During its first phase, it will produce films by exceptionally talented filmmakers who have already established themselves with prior feature work. Agenda 2000 will enable these filmmakers to make daring films less expensively and with greater creative control. In addition to providing financing for digital features, Agenda 2000 will also strategically leverage its resources o create new production and distribution possibilities. It will help stimulate the further refinement of digital video equipment for feature filmmaking; explore the creative potential of these tools; and support the development of new distribution opportunities utilizing cable, broadband, satellite and the Internet. Some Agenda 2000 films will have their World Premieres on The Independent Film Channel. Next Wave Films has been at the forefront of the Digital Revolution since the company's inception in early 1997, charting trends, identifying resources and championing DV's pioneers. Broderick, who has been giving workshops worldwide about the benefits of DV feature filmmaking, will be making presentations at the upcoming Sundance and Rotterdam Film Festivals. He notes that "Next Wave Films is uniquely positioned to finance DV features, given our allies, resources, and the DV expertise of my colleagues Mark Stolaroff and Tara Veneruso. Agenda 2000 will empower intrepid digital pioneers to blaze trails that many emerging and established filmmakers will follow." A company of The Independent Film Channel, Next Wave Films was created to help exceptionally talented new filmmakers launch their careers. It furnishes finishing funds to outstanding, low budget English language features. Next Wave Films also provides assistance during post-production, helps filmmakers implement film festival and press strategies, and helps them find distribution by serving as a producer's rep. Its films include Joe Carnahan's Blood, Guts, Bullets & Octane and Christopher Nolan's Following. The Independent Film Channel (IFC), managed and operated by Bravo Cable Network, is the first channel dedicated to independent film presented 24 hours a day, uncut and commercial-free. IFC, which launched on September 1, 1994, has the most extensive film library on television, with titles from Miramax, Sony Classics, October and Fine Line. The Independent Film Channel, reaching 23 million homes on a full-time basis, is the most widely distributed channel dedicated to independent film on television. |