Independent production, financing and distribution company Covert Media has launched a newly formed international sales label –Lexica Films -championing foreign language feature film titles for the worldwide marketplace, it was announced today by Covert Media’s CEO Paul Hanson. Covert will add the foreign language titles to its quickly growing sales and production slate to present to buyers around the globe.
Covert Media is aiming to launch 5-10 films per year through Lexica, identifying titles with a wide range of universal themes from around the world. In many cases, the company will also be handling English language remake rights to the projects. Covert’s President of International, Liz Kim Schwan will lead the division.
“Broadening our reach into foreign language films is a natural step for Covert Media and we are proud to announce the Lexica label,” stated CEO Paul Hanson. “The quality and commercial appeal of these films from some of the most talented filmmakers from all corners of the world enables us to expand the range of the distinctive projects we can offer to the worldwide marketplace.”
“Covert and MCC have strong filmmaker relationships around the globe and capitalizing on that underserved stream of excellent films is the next strategic step for Covert Media to build on an already amazing slate,” commented Sasha Shapiro, Managing Director of MCC, the equity fund behind Covert Media. “There is a global appetite for creative and original filmmaking no matter the language and Covert is a dynamic new outlet for those filmmakers.”
The first title announced under the new label is the epic disaster film Earthquakethat will be presented to buyers in Toronto. Covert is handling all international sales outside of Russia, France and China. Covert is also handling the North American rights. The film is a potential candidate as the Armenian entry for this year’s Foreign Language awards category.
Starring the Cannes Best Actor award winner Konstantin Lavronenko (The Banishment, Name Me), Earthquake is a fictional account of the devastating 1988 Spitak earthquake that destroyed over 300 towns across Armenia, displacing more than half a million people. Set in Leninakan, Armenia, the film follows the interwoven stories of a 50-year-old Russian and a 28-year-old Armenian who work together to rescue desperate survivors despite their complicated past. This visually intense and heart-stopping feature shows the strength of humanity in the face of a grave disaster.
Directed by Sarik Andreasyan (American Heist), Earthquake’s cast also includes Sabina Akhmedova (The Ninth Cloud, High Security Vacation) and newcomer Viktor Stepanyan.
The film is written by Aleksey Gravitskiy and Sergey Yudakov, with participation from Grant Barsegyan and Arsen Danielyan. Sarik Andreasyan, Gevond Andreasyan, Ruben Dishdishyan and Aram Movsesyan serve as producers.
“The incredible visual effects in Earthquake bring you into the heart of the story from the very first moment,” commented Covert’s President of International Liz Kim Schwan. “The film takes us to the center of one of the world’s worst recent disasters and highlights the importance and timely message of coming together in times of crisis to survive.”
Earthquake is set for a wide theatrical release under its original title Zemletryasenie in 1,000 theaters across Russia on December 1st, 2016 by Caro Premier Film Company, a licensee of Warner Bros. International Pictures.