Alliance Films (UK) Limited, trading as Momentum Pictures, was a film distributor owned by Alliance Films and operated as their UK division. It was one of the leading independent distributors of films in the UK and Ireland until being folded into Entertainment One in 2013 following the purchase of Alliance Films by the company.
Entertainment One later revived the brand in 2015 to release independent films in North America and other international territories. This incarnation of the distributor would be folded in 2023 after the sale of Entertainment One to Lionsgate.
History
In February 1997, Canadian distributor Alliance Communications announced that they would enter the UK film market by forming a joint-venture with independent distributor Electric Pictures which was originally called Alliance Releasing UK.[2]
In August 1999, German distributor Kinowelt announced that they had taken a 50% stake in the UK distribution company Alliance Atlantis Releasing from Alliance Atlantis.[3][4] By May 2000, the venture Alliance Atlantis Releasing was renamed as Momentum Pictures.[5] Kinowelt attempted to purchase AAL's stake in Momentum Pictures as late as 2001, but were unable to do so due to their financial issues.[6] Eventually, the joint-venture partnership would fall through between companies, and Momentum reverted to being a fully owned subsidiary of AAL.[7]
In 2003, AAL announced plans to spin off the company and its own Canadian theatrical division as an income fund business, entitled Motion Picture Distribution LP, of which they would hold a majority interest.[8] The deal closed a month later in October.[9]
After the breakup of Alliance Atlantis in 2007, Motion Picture Distribution LP, including Momentum, was sold to EdgeStone Capital Partners[10] with GS Capital Partners keeping the other stake. In September, the business became known as Alliance Films.
On May 28, 2012, Entertainment One announced that they would purchase Alliance Films,[11][12] which would be completed on January 9, 2013.[13] Afterwards, Momentum Pictures was folded into Entertainment One's UK theatrical operations.[14] Despite this, the company remains as a dormant business to this day, currently being under Lionsgate UK ownership.[15]
In September 2015, Entertainment One announced that it would revive the Momentum Pictures brand as a label used for "films for digital and ancillary exploitation on a global basis." The label then signed a distribution agreement with Orion Pictures to release their movies in North America and select international territories.[16]
In February 2011, Momentum Pictures won eight BAFTA awards, more than any other UK distributor. Seven awards went to The King's Speech, including Best Film and Best Actor. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo won Best Film Not in the English Language.
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