Hey folks, Harry here with news that has frankly been way too long in coming.
You may remember during last year's FANTASTIC FEST Awards - I posted up this video of Marko Zaror accepting one of the many awards that MANDRILL won at FANTASTIC FEST 2009.
Well, MANDRILL - the first feature film created expressly to be debuted at FANTASTIC FEST. Seriously - Ernesto and Marko told everyone that they wanted to have a reason to come back - as they did not wish to return to FANTASTIC FEST empty handed - so they very quickly conceived of, shot and literally finished the film, 3 hours before boarding a plane for FANTASTIC FEST - only to walk away with the award for BEST PICTURE!
Well now - From Cannes - where Tim League is currently seeking out the next MANDRILL, the next awesome for FANTASTIC FEST... the news comes that MAGNET is going to be releasing MANDRILL. No details on a release scheme - but if MAGNET is game - AICN we'll host screening anywhere and everywhere they wish. This is one of those low budget fun genre films that just kills. It is a starmaker for Marko - and definitely puts Ernesto Espinoza as a major cool filmmaker to watch.
Here's the press release:
Magnet Releasing Takes the World on Marko “the Latin Dragon” Zaror Action Flick, MANDRILL Cannes – May 14, 2010 – The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired world rights to MANDRILL, the thrilling new action film directed by Ernesto Espinoza and starring Marko “the Latin Dragon” Zaror. Zaror is a phenomenal talent from Chile who is making a big splash in the international martial arts scene, and just cinched the Best Rising Action star award at ActionFest 2010 in Asheville, NC. Winner of the Best Picture award at Fantastic Fest 2009, MANDRILL is from the same team behind cult favorites KILTRO and MIRAGEMAN, also distributed by Magnet Releasing, and tells the story of a master assassin (Zaror) hell bent on avenging the murder of his parents. “Ernesto and Marko deliver the goods once again. MANDRILL is tons of action filled fun. Mind blowing fights that need to be seen to be believed,” said Magnolia SVP Tom Quinn. "Zaror continues to deliver phenomenal martial arts combined with great acting,” said producer Derek Rundell. “Ernesto once again created an action packed adventure that’s funny and cool. We are thrilled that Magnolia continues to believes and help us crossover into the international marketplace.” Tom Quinn negotiated the deal on behalf of Magnet Releasing with Derek Rundell. About Magnet Releasing Magnet is the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures (www.magpictures.com), specializing in films from the vanguard of horror, action, comedy and Asian cinema, and is home to such critically acclaimed films as Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In, John Woo’s historical epic, Red Cliff, Ty West’s The House of the Devil, Nacho Vigalondo’s time travel masterpiece Timecrimes, sci-fi epic Mutant Chronicles, The Warlords starring Jet Li, Tony Jaa’s thrilling Ong Bak 2, Nicholas Winding Refn’s Bronson and such upcoming titles as Gareth Edwards’ Monsters, anticipated horror sequel [Rec]2, Neil Marshall’s Centurion, George A. Romero’s Survival of the Dead, and the thrilling action sequel District 13 – Ultimatum. Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that also include the Landmark Theatres chain, the production company 2929 Productions, and high-definition cable network HDNet.
