Magnolia blesses monster pic 'Host'
Creature feature brings in big buzz at fest

By Patrick Frater

24th May 2006 9:16am PT
Magnolia Pictures has bought multi-territory rights to "The Host," the Korean monster movie that plays in Directors' Fortnight and has arguably been the hit of the festival.

Magnolia bought North American, U.K and Australian rights. It is putting in place sub-distribution deals in the territories outside the U.S.

Sales agent Cineclick Asia had intended to sell rights on a territory-by-territory basis, but the Eamonn Bowles-headed Magnolia made a generous enough offer for a change of heart.

The Bong Joon-ho-helmed pic "has the potential to become a classic of the the genre," Bowles said. "It is a the most impressive and imaginative monster I've seen in a long time."

Cineclick also licensed the movie to France's Ocean Films, to Argentina and Brazil with Providence, to Mexico's Gussi Films, Thailand's J-Bics , Spain's Notro Films and the former Yugoslavia's Discovery Films.

Magnolia has on occasion bought multiple rights: Previously it picked up Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Kairo" for seven territories from Miramax.

Deal was negotiated by Tom Quinn, Magnolia's head of acquisitions; Ben Stambler, acquisitions manager; and Jason Janego, head of legal and business affairs. On the Cineclick side, deal was handled by prexy Suh Young-joo and senior sales manager Sang Eun-chi.

Variety