MALIBU, Calif., April 3, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empire Film Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets:EFGU) (www.empirefilmgroup.com), reported an enthusiastic reception to five new release theatrical films presented this week at the ShoWest Theaters convention in Las Vegas. Empire executives met with major theater circuits, including AMC, Regal and Carmike Theaters and presented release plans for "Thru The Moebius Strip", "Chelsea on the Rocks" and three other titles slated for release to theaters this summer and fall.
"We're very encouraged by the support received for our new theatrical titles," said Eric Parkinson, CEO of Distribution for Empire. "With bookings set for many of the nation's top circuits and key independent theaters, we have positioned these new releases for box office success, and the company for continued growth and positive momentum. We will now begin building upon this support by launching high profile consumer campaigns to drive awareness and traffic to theaters."
ShoWest is the annual convention sponsored by the NATO, the National Association of Theater Owners, and is attended by all of the nation's top theater chains and movie studio suppliers. This is the second year that Empire Film Group has attended ShoWest, with last year's launch supporting the company's release announcement of "Hounddog" starring Dakota Fanning.
Empire Film Group is one of only three, full-service independent studios controlling both theatrical and video releasing activities on an in-house basis. Other full-services competitors for Empire include The Weinstein Company and Summit Entertainment. Additionally, there are five other key independent theatrical distributors, and seven major studio suppliers also competing for screens and support of the theater chains. Key independent theatrical distributors are CBS Films, Freestyle Releasing, IFC Films, Overature and Think Films. The major studios suppliers include Buena Vista-Disney, Fox-Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, MCA-Universal, MGM-UA, Paramount and Sony-Columbia Tri-Star.
"It's exciting to have Empire releases given the same level of support as many of the Major Studio pictures," said Parkinson. "We consider these bookings to be a vote of confidence from the nation's top theaters for the commercial potential of our key titles."
Empire Film Group is a fully-integrated independent film studio, with activities in all areas of the film and television industries. The company operates a production division out of Malibu, California, and administers the sales, marketing and distribution of films out of a warehouse and studio in N.W. Arkansas, near the Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., world headquarters.