ABOUT AFTER DARK FILMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Independent motion picture studio, AFTER DARK FILMS, was formed in 2006 by director/filmmaker, Courtney Solomon and Hoang Kong based real estate magnate, Allan Zeman. After Dark Films first motion picture film release was An American Haunting in 2006, starring Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland. Co-Founder and CEO, Courtney Solomon, wrote, produced, directed and single handedly marketed and distributed An American Haunting under the newly formed After Dark Films banner.

This was an unprecedented move on Hollywood, since films are generally only wide-released by the major studios. After Dark Films released An American Haunting on 1,750 screens across the nation against Mission Impossible 3. An American Haunting was #2 in the nation and remained in the TOP TEN, during the busy summer season, for four weeks straight. An American Haunting went on to gross nearly $17,000,000 domestically.

In September 2006, Courtney Solomon and partner, Allan Zeman, formed an alliance – a three-year marketing and distribution outputdeal between After Dark Films and Lionsgate Entertainment NYSE: LGF (CRASH, SAW I-III, HOSTEL I-II, THE COOLER, JU-ON THE GRUDGE, SLOW BURN, THE CONDEMNED, AWAY FROM HER, DELTA FORCE) The unique deal has Lionsgate handling the distribution of all ancillary forms of media(i.e. Home Video, Pay TV, Pay Per View, etc.), and After Dark handling the theatrical releasing and marketing of all films released under the pact. The two companies partner on various films, with After Dark Films releasing several large Lionsgate Entertainment releases theatrically, on behalf of Lionsgate. Under the pact, both companies have the ability to “put” films theatrically to each other.

In November 2006, After Dark Films launched “8 Films to Die For: After Dark Horrorfest”, an annual weekend-long theatrical event, which featured eight never seen before horror films in 500 theatres across the country. The “8 Films to Die For: After Dark Horrorfest” was a new concept intended to launch a new brand and create the ultimate horror film event of the year which could be repeated and grow annually. Over its three day weekend (November 17-19, 2006), Horrorfest was #10 in the top ten films nationwide for that weekend, grossing over $2,500,000 with an impressive $5,000+ screen average for the weekend. (Horrorfest was released on just 488 screens). Of all the other titles in the top ten that weekend, the next smallest screen count was 1,850 screens. The concept was to create value for titles that otherwise would have been direct-to-video releases which would have shipped on average 25,000 units per title, and in all other ancillary markets. By theatrically marketing the “Horrorfest” brand and event, greatly increased value was created for all titles.

Seven of the “8 Films to Die For” were released by Lionsgate, on March 27th, and received an immediate, fantastic response from both retailers and consumers, shipping over 1,100,000 units, almost ten times what would have shipped without the branding. Now an annual event many of the first year titles will be re-packaged in larger DVD boxed sets creating expanding life for the titles.

WWW.HORRORFESTONLINE.COM