here! Films, the theatrical distribution and worldwide sales division of here! Networks, is pleased to announce that it has acquired North American distribution rights to "Ciao," a drama about friendship, intimacy and loss from award-winning director Yen Tan. The film recently won the Jury Prize for Best Feature at the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and played at Outfest 2008: The 26th Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. here! Films' sister company, Regent Releasing, will release "Ciao" in select theaters this fall.
"We are thrilled to be working with Yen Tan on his second accomplished feature," said Mark Reinhart, West Coast General Manager and Executive Vice President Distribution and Acquisitions, Regent and here!. "'Ciao' is a fresh, graceful work of art with universal appeal and we are fortunate to bring his vision to audiences across the country this fall."
"Ciao," written and directed by Yen Tan, is an emotionally astute film about the incidental friendship between two strangers living in two different parts of the world. Their connection is linked by the unexpected loss of a mutual friend. One has been with him for many years; the other has never even met him, but may have gotten to know him on a more intimate level through the eMails exchanged. How would these two people behave when they meet? What would they say to each other? In which ways do they mourn? What begins as a tragedy that links two stranger from different ends of the world becomes a deeply realized friendship that may change their lives forever.
"Ciao" stars Adam Neal Smith, Alessandro Calza and Charles Blaum, was written by Yen Tan and Alessandro Calza and produced by Jim McMahon. The film has played numerous film festivals nationwide including Outfest, NewFest, Frameline, Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and AFI-Dallas where it won an Honorable Mention. "Quinn Coleman contacted us early on in our festival run with a clear understanding of what it would take to market this film appropriately," said producer Jim McMahon. "Yen and I are delighted to work with Regent Releasing/here! Films to bring "Ciao" to a wide audience."
Yen Tan, born and raised in Malaysia, has experienced great success, beginning with his first short film, "Love Stories." He followed with his first full-length feature film "Happy Birthday," which garnered numerous awards at various film festivals around the world including Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature at the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and the New Directors Showcase at the Portland GLBT Film Festival. Yen contributed to the acclaimed omnibus feature "Deadroom," which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival, and was featured as one of the "20 Great Dallasites" in the 20th anniversary edition of the Dallas Voice. In addition to Ciao, Tan also wrote the Sundance Screenwriting Lab semi-finalist, Pit Stop.
The deal was negotiated by Quinn Coleman from here! Films and Jim McMahon from Unauthorized Films. here! Films sister company Regent Releasing will handle the film's theatrical release during the Fall of 2008.
"Ciao" marks the fifth film that here! Films/Regent Releasing picked up at Outfest 2008: The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival which concluded July 21st. Other titles include the Opening Night film "Breakfast with Scot," Closing Night film "Tru Loved," international dramatic entries "The World Unseen," and "Antarctica."
For more information, please visit www.ciaomovie.com.