Founded in 1981, TLA Entertainment launched its Releasing division in 2000 through the TLA Releasing and Danger After Dark labels which established the division as a pioneer in alternative cinema, specializing in international films, LGBT, and horror and cult movies.
The UK’s successful and wide-ranging catalogue of nearly 200 films and TV series includes Latter Days, Sleeper Cell, Another Gay Movie, High Art, Shelter, Were The World Mine, Loving Annabelle and Dante’s Cove. Its most recent titles include Is It Just Me?, The One, BearCity and From Beginning To End.
With its sale to veteran producer Curl and his investor group, TLA Releasing will now be operated by filmmakers. Curl, who began his film career producing music videos, has been Acquisitions Director at TLA since 2009 and also serves as Senior Producer at MPI Media Group overseeing the production of such hits as Ti West’s The House of the Devil, Hatchet II and Stake Land. His most recent productions are West’s new haunted-hotel thriller The Innkeepers and James McKenney’s upcoming Hypothermia.
In announcing the deal, Curl said: “TLA Releasing has proven again and again, over many years, that ‘independence’ can translate to great success. My first distribution deal was with TLA and that gave me great confidence to go forward with a career in movies and now I am honored to have the opportunity to continue the spirit of the brand and be part of its ongoing success story.”
To help retain continuity between TLA’s past and its future, Entertainment President Raymond Murray, will remain with TLA Releasing as Acquisitions Advisor.
Murray said of the sale: “The partners of TLA Entertainment are firm believers in Derek’s vision for the releasing company in both the types of films he wishes to acquire as well as expanding the distribution structure with aggressive ideas for VOD, broadcast and foreign sales. Evolving technology is challenging the old way of doing business in film and a fresh approach is needed to capitalize on the opportunities being created in this new entertainment world. Derek is the man to meet this challenge.”
UK Operations Manager Adam Silver added: “Derek brings a wealth of unique experience and a truly fresh perspective to TLA’s well-established brand and slate of classic films. I look forward to sharing this vision with him both here in the UK, and internationally.”
Commenting on the future of TLA Entertainment following the sale of its releasing division, Murray said: “The Entertainment Group’s plan is to focus our energies and resources on our core business: which is being a prominent home entertainment e-tailer and mail order company.”
About TLA Entertainment Group
TLA Entertainment Group, based in Philadelphia, is a privately held corporation founded in 1981. The company began as owners of the Theatre of the Living Arts, a repertory cinema as well as the Roxy Screening Rooms. In 1985, it opened the first of several awardwinning video stores in the Philadelphia area and in New York City. In 1996 it launched www.tlavideo.com, a direct-to-consumer movie site that has since expended into the sale of DVDs and most recently, VOD. In 2000 it launched TLA Releasing, a film and video releasing company for North America. In 2005 it opened a British distribution company based in London. Today, TLA Entertainment’s primary business remains as a DVD and VOD e-tailer through it many sites including www.tlamovies.com, www.tlagay.com, www.tlaraw.com and www.tlacult.com.
About Derek Curl
Atlanta-born Curl, has been an active filmmaker since graduating from the School of Visual Arts in 2000, having produced such popular titles as Another Gay Movie and The Houseboy as well as many horror films like Plague Town, Hatchet 2, The Innkeepers and Stakeland.
