Miramax & Weinstein Company Strike New Multi-Year Partnership

December 16, 2013 World Screen Top Stories

NEW YORK/SANTA MONICA: Miramax and The Weinstein Company (TWC) have entered into a new multi-year deal for the co-production and co-distribution of projects derived from the Miramax library as well as original content.

Films from the partnership will be released in the U.S. by TWC and sold internationally by Miramax.

The new arrangement also includes the development of several TV series based on Miramax titles, including Good Will Hunting and Flirting with Disaster. Miramax will lead international distribution on these titles, while TWC handles domestic.

Miramax and TWC anticipate the first productions will start in early to mid-2014.

The Weinsteins started the studio in 1979; Miramax was acquired in 2010 by Qatar Holding, together with the investor group led by Thomas J. Barrack, Jr.’s Colony Capital.

“Qatar Holding fully supports this exciting development for Miramax, as part of a long-term strategy to further enhance the value in the company’s extensive catalogue of material. By securing an agreement between Miramax and The Weinstein Company, the deal brings together two of the best-known names in the film industry to provide a dynamic partnership which will take Miramax to the next stage in its journey,” Qatar Holding said.

“As some of the greatest independent filmmakers in history, Harvey and Bob built Miramax into one of the most recognizable and powerful brands in Hollywood. The iconic library they created has enabled us to capture the value of the digital distribution revolution and harvest revenue far greater than we ever imagined,” said Thomas J. Barrack Jr., the founder, chairman and CEO of Colony Capital and chairman of the board of Miramax.

“Reuniting Harvey and Bob with the acres of cinematic diamonds that is the Miramax library, and combining the two companies' powerful distribution capabilities, will create an unparalleled partnership in cinematic excellence,” Barrack added.

"This is an amazing opportunity to reunite us with the company named after our parents Miriam and Max. We salute Qatar Holding and Tom Barrack of Colony Capital for joining forces in this most exciting of endeavors. From movies to TV shows to the Broadway stage they have reinvigorated Miramax productions and to have the Miramax banner fly once again is a dream come true for all of us,” commented Harvey and Bob Weinstein, co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company.

Miriam Weinstein, Harvey and Bob's mother, said, "Over the years Bob and Harvey have never let me talk although I would have done better than them, after all I am a Jewish mother. I want to thank Tom Barrack, Colony Capital, and Qatar Holding for bringing Miramax actively back into my life and making a dream come true. No one would be happier than Harvey and Bob's late father, Max. This is truly a lucky partnership for all involved, for filmmakers and hopefully lucky for filmgoers all over the world."