Indies Kino & Lorber to Merge

NEW YORK: Lorber HT Digital holding company Hidden Treasures has acquired Kino International, merging to form Kino Lorber, with a combined library of more than 600 titles.

Richard Lorber, the president and CEO of Lorber HT Digital, and Donald Krim, the president and founder of Kino International, will serve as co-presidents of the combined operation and will continue to release films under the existing labels Kino International Films and Lorber Films, as well as Lorber’s Alive Mind for documentaries and Knitting Factory Entertainment for music titles. Each will remain primarily responsible for acquisitions for their ongoing lines. Krim will lead the traditional distribution operations, while Lorber will be tasked with business development and corporate strategy. The existing staffs of both companies will remain with the merged business, which will be based at the current offices of Kino.

Kino Lorber launches with a full slate of theatrical releases, starting with The Sun and Home, both Lorber films. Kino’s early 2010 theatrical releases include Ajami and Dogtooth. On the classics side, next spring Kino will launch the new restoration of Metropolis in theaters, followed by DVD and Blu-ray release. Also on DVD, Lorber Films will release Tony Manero, as well as As it is in Heaven. Recent acquisitions include Videocracy for Lorber Films and Double Take B from Kino. All films and labels will be distributed under the Kino Lorber banner. Each of the Kino and Lorber labels is plans six to eight theatrical releases per year and combined will bring out more than 60 titles digitally and on DVD.

Krim commented, “The chance to join operations with my good friend Richard Lorber, to strengthen our position as a buyer of films and as a seller to the new digital distribution channels is a natural step forward for Kino and in our new combination as Kino Lorber one that I believe will have great benefit for us and the talented filmmakers whose work we represent.”

Lorber said, “I’ve happily built my career with partners and I’m proud again to prove the truth of synergy as I move the Lorber businesses forward with my long-time friend Don Krim. Our optimally scaled operation will have the fuel reserves of a great, large library powering a high-performance entrepreneurial engine.”