New York, NY (May 11, 2006) – Following the successful collaboration on the Academy Award® nominated film 'Transamerica,' The Weinstein Company and IFC Films announced today that they will join together once again to co-distribute 'Wordplay,' directed by Patrick Creadon and Produced by Christine O'Malley. 'Worldplay,' which played to audience raves at this year's Sundance Film Festival, explores the world of the crossword, the mind of NY Times crossword editor and NPR puzzle-master Will Shortz and the national tournament which he founded and where puzzlers unite.
Last January, IFC Films acquired North American rights to the film. Today's announcement will bring the two companies together to jointly share the domestic distribution of the film in the US and Canada. As announced last week, The Weinstein Company holds all international rights and will begin selling the international territories at the Cannes Film Festival.
'Wordplay' focuses on the man most associated with crossword puzzles, New York Times puzzle editor and NPR puzzle-master Will Shortz. Director Patrick Creadon introduces us to this passionate hero, and to the inner workings of his brilliant and often hilarious contributors, including syndicated puzzle creator Merl Reagle. Along the way, the film presents interviews with celebrity crossword puzzlers such as Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, Jon Stewart, Ken Burns, Mike Mussina and the Indigo Girls, who reveal their process, insight and the allure of the game. In addition to deconstructing this uniquely American institution, 'Wordplay' takes us though the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, an annual competition founded by Shortz. As the competitors are introduced and the tournament progresses, it becomes clear that this is more about community and comradery than anything else.
"Through the years, IFC has built a strong and highly successful relationship with Harvey and Bob that is based on admiration, mutual respect and the strong desire to serve the independent film community," stated Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment. "Together, we remain committed to ensuring that important independent films, like 'Worldplay,' are provided the strongest marketing campaigns and broadest audience possible. IFC is pleased to be associated with a filmmaker like Patrick and his very special film and to once again use the power and leverage of the IFC and Weinstein brands to ensure his project has a strong voice."
"We are thrilled to be partnering with IFC on the distribution of "Wordplay," which is an incredibly clever and well-made film," said Harvey Weinstein. "Jonathan and his team have always been wonderful to work with and we look forward to sharing the same kind of success on this film as we did when partnering on "Transamerica."
ABOUT IFC ENTERTAINMENT
IFC Films is a leading theatrical film distribution company bringing the best of independent and specialized films to theaters. IFC Films releases approximately 10 films per year, building its slate of titles from an aggressive acquisitions program and selected in-house productions.
IFC Films is part of IFC Entertainment, which also consists of IFC Productions, InDigEnt (a digital production arm) the new IFC Center in Greenwich Village, and the new day and date label, IFC First Take. IFC Films recently produced and distributed the award winning Me And You And Everyone We Know and Lars von Trier 's Manderlay. Steve Buscemi's Lonesome Jim, Matthew Barney's Drawing Restraint 9, Patrick Creadon's Wordplay, Lou Pepe and Keith Fulton's Brothers of the Head, Bent Hamer's Factotum and Adrien Shergold's Pierrepoint are among the 2006 releases. IFC Films has executive produced Night Listener with Hart Sharp and also produced Susanne Bier's After the Wedding, which the banner will also distribute. Notable IFC films include the Academy Award winning Boys Don't Cry, Touching the Void which broke box office records to become among the top ten grossing documentaries of all time, 2003 Oscar® – nominated My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Alfonso Cuaron's Y Tu Mama Tambien. IFC Films co-distributed Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 and the award winning Transamerica.
ABOUT RAINBOW MEDIA
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.