Lionsgate, Killer Films in TV Deal

SANTA MONICA/VANCOUVER, June 13: Indie film production
outfit Killer Films, whose credits include Far From Heaven and Boys Don’t Cry, has signed a first-look
television deal with Lionsgate to develop and produce programming for both
broadcast and cable.

Killer Films’ TV work thus far
includes Mrs. Harris, the HBO TV movie
that was nominated for 12 Emmy Awards. Its first television series, This
American Life, based on Ira Glass's
popular NPR show, debuted to strong ratings and acclaim on Showtime this
spring.

The studio is headed up by
Christine Vachon. “Christine is a brilliant creative force and she and her
partners at Killer Films are known for producing challenging and often
controversial material with great success," said Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's
president of television programming and production. "Their artistic
sensibility and highly entrepreneurial style are a perfect fit for Lionsgate,
and we anticipate a great collaboration."

Upcoming Killer productions
include I'm Not There, Todd Haynes' new
film about Bob Dylan starring Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Richard Gere and
Heath Ledger; Savage Grace, directed by
Tom Kalin and starring Julianne Moore; and Then She Found Me, the directorial debut of Helen Hunt, starring Hunt, Bette
Midler, Colin Firth and Matthew Broderick.