WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., July 30, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Empire Film Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets:EFGU) has received a commitment from Tayrona Entertainment Group for the financing and production of the Movie "Havana Heat". The project will be filmed in Cartagena, Colombia this fall and will be a co-production between Empire Film Group and Tayrona Entertainment Group. Tayrona's CEO, James Ordonez, confirmed the financing for the project. A combination of foreign pre-sales, tax credits and private equity will be utilized to finance the production.
Tayrona Entertainment Group has produced, distributed and provided financing and production services to high quality Hollywood films and TV shows for over 20 years in the market place. Their background and experience include films like "The Mission" starring Robert de Niro and Jeremy Irons, "Cobra Verde" directed by Werner Herzog, "Chronicle of a Foretold Death" directed by Francesco Rossi, "Nostromo" starring Albert Finney and Colin Firth, "Proof of Life" starring Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan, "The Dancer Upstairs" directed by John Malkovich, "Reversal of Love" distributed by MGM, "Stuck" starring Stephen Rea and Mena Suvari, "Quo Vadis" for HBO and "Zorro" the television series for Sony Pictures. Tayrona Distribution (Formerly Cinemac Inc) has distributed in the territory of Latin America over 100 titles, including successful films like Academy Award winner Crash, Brokeback Mountain, The Eye, Hostage, Vanity Fair, The House of the Spirits and The House of Flying Daggers.
"I am excited to begin pre-production on this project in Cartagena as we have developed, researched and prepared for the filming of this project in this beautiful city and unique location," said Dean Hamilton-Bornstein, Empire C.E.O. "Havana Heat" is an action adventure story about an ex-secret service agent who is called back into service on special assignment on the Island of Cuba. To benefit from tax incentives, currency exchange rates and lower production costs, the project will be filmed on location in Cartagena, Colombia which closely resembles and will double for Havana.
Empire Film Group, Inc. is a fully-integrated film and television production and distribution company with distribution capabilities to reach theatrical, video, television, video-on-demand and international markets through its wholly owned subsidiary Producers Releasing Organization. Empire Sports Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Empire Film Group set up to develop, acquire, produce, market and distribute sports related entertainment properties in film, television and in various multi media and digital environments.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Sections 27A & 21E of the amended Securities and Exchange Acts of 1933-34, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Although the company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these statements included in this press release will prove accurate.