through the Collector’s Choice series

Aug-25-2008

CULVER CITY, CA (August 25, 2008) – Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has entered into an exciting creative partnership with Martin Scorsese’s non-profit film preservation organization, The Film Foundation, to bring a variety of classic films to DVD. The alliance between SPHE and The Film Foundation will help reintroduce to the public many films revered by film collectors, but long out of circulation. The collaboration will be released under the “Collector’s Choice” banner and feature restored and remastered transfers of highly anticipated titles from the vast and untapped Sony catalog. In addition, celebrated Hollywood talent, including Oscar® winning directors and actors, will contribute their own commentary and personalized introductions of films that have inspired them in their own work.

The first release under the new “Collector’s Choice” partnership will be The Films of Budd Boetticher Box Set on November 4. The collection features five Western masterpieces by the acclaimed director: The Tall T (1957), Decision at Sundown (1957), Buchanan Rides Alone (1958), Ride Lonesome (1959), and Comanche Station (1960). The set includes introductions and commentary by a trio of Academy Award® winning directors inspired by Boetticher’s work: Martin Scorsese, Clint Eastwood, and Taylor Hackford. “We have an incredible treasure trove of films in our catalog, and this partnership with The Film Foundation helps us to create a unique, collectible package for classic cinema fans so they, too, can own a piece of Hollywood’s film legacy,” said Lexine Wong, Senior Executive Vice President, Worldwide Marketing, SPHE.

“By collaborating with The Film Foundation, the ‘Collector’s Choice’ series will memorialize our outstanding film collection and allow us an opportunity to introduce a whole new generation to these notable films.”“Part of The Film Foundation’s goal to preserve cinematic history includes providing access to these restored treasures. We’re happy to be partnering with Sony Pictures to help make available films that have not been previously released. And having renowned filmmakers set them in historical and cultural context is invaluable,” said Margaret Bodde, Executive Director, The Film Foundation.

Grover Crisp, Senior Vice President, Asset Management, Film Restoration and Digital Mastering, Sony Pictures, adds: "With our partners from The Film Foundation, we have selected some of the most iconic and most requested films in our library, and many are debuting on DVD for the first time.  We restored these films from the most original source elements and are pleased to present them in newly-mastered versions for the best presentation possible." SPHE and The Film Foundation will continue their alliance with several extraordinary upcoming DVD sets, including a Michael Powell Double Feature along with Rita Hayworth, Frank Capra, William Castle, and Film Noir collections.

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About Sony Picture Home Entertainment: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.sonypictures.com. 

About The Film Foundation: The Film Foundation (www.film-foundation.org) is a nonprofit organization established in 1990 by Martin Scorsese. The foundation is dedicated to protecting and preserving motion picture history, and provides substantial annual support for preservation and restoration projects at the nation’s major film archives. Since its inception, the foundation has been instrumental in raising awareness of the urgent need to preserve films and has helped to save nearly 500 motion pictures. Joining Scorsese on the board are: Woody Allen, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Francis Ford Coppola, Clint Eastwood, Curtis Hanson, Peter Jackson, Ang Lee, George Lucas, Alexander Payne, Robert Redford and Steven Spielberg. The Film Foundation is aligned with the Directors Guild of America whose President and Secretary-Treasurer serve on the foundation’s board.