Red Sea Media is experiencing its first Cannes. Founded in November 2011 by Roman Kopelevich and Roman Viaris, the company is backed by Russian investors. Its initial slate of films is quite strong for such a new company. Aside from the two action films Anchor Bay just acquired for all English speaking territories, Officer Down (Stephen Dorff and James Woods) and Pawn (Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta and Nikki Reed), the slate includes A White Trash Christmas (Taryn Manning, Eric Roberts, Beverly D’Angelo), West Texas Lullaby (Val Kilmer), The Frozen (Brit Morgan), The Stoning Of Soraya M (Jim Caviezel) and Snowmen (Ray Liotta), and Frankie Go Boom (from Sundance). They get films from diverse sources, including from his attorney, Elsa Ramo who represents financiers and producers. He wants to establish a brand as a source of Russian films such as those by Serge Selyanov (Mongol) who is also a distributor in Russia (Nashe Kino). His main investor is Vadim Goryainov. The company was established when a friend of his mother (who is also in the business) approached him with 3 Moscow based companies.
While the company is new, Kopelevich himself has over 20 years of experience. Prior to Red Sea Media, he served as head of sales at Bleiberg Entertainment, where he sold the critically acclaimed films The Band’S Visit and Adam Resurrected (Jeff Goldblum). Previously, at Morgan Creek, Kopelevich sold the rights to The Good Shepherd (Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro) as well as Two For The Money (Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey). Prior to that, he worked at Media 8 Entertainment, where he handled foreign rights for Academy Award winner Monster (Charlize Theron); The Upside Of Anger (Kevin Costner); Havoc (Anne Hathaway); Man About Town (Ben Affleck) and Running Scared (Paul Walker). His first film job was in 1991 with New World under Brandon Tartikoff and Ben Silverman who is currently the founder and CEO of Electus, a next generation entertainment studio staked by Iac's Barry Diller. His stint with New World continued after Ron Pearlman sold the company to Fox News Corps for $2 billion which helped to establish Fox Network into what it became 2 years later.
The first time we met Roman Kopelevich was during the internet bubble days of 2000 when FilmFinders was the acquired by iFilm and was the darling of all the film internet sites because it was one of two film databases in existence, Roman was working with FilmBazaar.com which covered Cannes that year with its Orange signage. We have since found out that he was born in Lithuania in 1971 and immigrated to America when he was seven years old with his twin sister and his parents who were Russian Jews.
The other Roman who owns the company is, Roman Viaris, formerly with Comerica Bank, as well as Nu Image Entertainment and served as the CFO of Voltage Pictures.
While the company is new, Kopelevich himself has over 20 years of experience. Prior to Red Sea Media, he served as head of sales at Bleiberg Entertainment, where he sold the critically acclaimed films The Band’S Visit and Adam Resurrected (Jeff Goldblum). Previously, at Morgan Creek, Kopelevich sold the rights to The Good Shepherd (Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro) as well as Two For The Money (Al Pacino and Matthew McConaughey). Prior to that, he worked at Media 8 Entertainment, where he handled foreign rights for Academy Award winner Monster (Charlize Theron); The Upside Of Anger (Kevin Costner); Havoc (Anne Hathaway); Man About Town (Ben Affleck) and Running Scared (Paul Walker). His first film job was in 1991 with New World under Brandon Tartikoff and Ben Silverman who is currently the founder and CEO of Electus, a next generation entertainment studio staked by Iac's Barry Diller. His stint with New World continued after Ron Pearlman sold the company to Fox News Corps for $2 billion which helped to establish Fox Network into what it became 2 years later.
The first time we met Roman Kopelevich was during the internet bubble days of 2000 when FilmFinders was the acquired by iFilm and was the darling of all the film internet sites because it was one of two film databases in existence, Roman was working with FilmBazaar.com which covered Cannes that year with its Orange signage. We have since found out that he was born in Lithuania in 1971 and immigrated to America when he was seven years old with his twin sister and his parents who were Russian Jews.
The other Roman who owns the company is, Roman Viaris, formerly with Comerica Bank, as well as Nu Image Entertainment and served as the CFO of Voltage Pictures.
- 5/27/2012
- by SydneyLevine
- Sydney's Buzz
'Elizabeth,' Loren big draws at Rome festival
ROME -- The European premiere of Elizabeth: The Golden Age was the big event on the first full day of the RomaCinemaFest, with star Cate Blanchett and director Shekhar Kapur attracting applause from a red carpet crowd noticeably fuller than the one from opening night a day earlier.
Earlier, Sophia Loren received a standing ovation at the Sistine Theater when she was awarded a lifetime achievement award.
The festival, which concludes Oct. 27, got under way Thursday with a limited schedule. But Friday featured a full lineup, with Elizabeth and several events related to the Focus India sidebar dominating the day.
Brad Isaacs' Have Dreams Will Travel and Un Chateau en Espagne (My Very Best Friend) from Isabelle Doval also premiered Friday, both in the Alice in the City sidebar for young moviegoers. And, after a 30-minute documentary on her career, Loren charmed a standing-room-only crowd with anecdotes from her early years in the film business.
The weekend schedule in Rome is expected to attract even more attention, with the world premiere of Francis Ford Coppola's first film in a decade -- Youth Without Youth -- and the European premiere of Francois Girard's Silk, starring Keira Knightley and Michael Pitt, on tap.
Earlier, Sophia Loren received a standing ovation at the Sistine Theater when she was awarded a lifetime achievement award.
The festival, which concludes Oct. 27, got under way Thursday with a limited schedule. But Friday featured a full lineup, with Elizabeth and several events related to the Focus India sidebar dominating the day.
Brad Isaacs' Have Dreams Will Travel and Un Chateau en Espagne (My Very Best Friend) from Isabelle Doval also premiered Friday, both in the Alice in the City sidebar for young moviegoers. And, after a 30-minute documentary on her career, Loren charmed a standing-room-only crowd with anecdotes from her early years in the film business.
The weekend schedule in Rome is expected to attract even more attention, with the world premiere of Francis Ford Coppola's first film in a decade -- Youth Without Youth -- and the European premiere of Francois Girard's Silk, starring Keira Knightley and Michael Pitt, on tap.
- 10/20/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
McDermott, Graham on 'Texas' map
Heather Graham and Dylan McDermott have joined the cast of Brad Isaacs' 1960s period drama A West Texas Children's Story.
The indie film, from Thom Mount's Whitsett Hill Entertainment, revolves around two 12-year-olds who embark on an adventure to improve their lives after living with abusive parents. AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Cayden Boyd (X-Men: The Last Stand) play the children.
Graham and McDermott play the girl's beatnik aunt and uncle who teach the children about their alternative lifestyle. Lara Flynn Boyle and Matthew Modine play the boy's parents. Val Kilmer also is in the film, which marks a directorial debut for Isaacs.
Based on an original screenplay by Isaacs (writer on Roseanne, Newhart and The Larry Sanders Show), Texas is filming in Albuquerque, N.M.
Boulevard Pictures, the film arm of Whitsett Hill Entertainment, and Miami-based Wolfgang Cinema are financing the film. Peace Arch Films is handling foreign distribution.
The indie film, from Thom Mount's Whitsett Hill Entertainment, revolves around two 12-year-olds who embark on an adventure to improve their lives after living with abusive parents. AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Cayden Boyd (X-Men: The Last Stand) play the children.
Graham and McDermott play the girl's beatnik aunt and uncle who teach the children about their alternative lifestyle. Lara Flynn Boyle and Matthew Modine play the boy's parents. Val Kilmer also is in the film, which marks a directorial debut for Isaacs.
Based on an original screenplay by Isaacs (writer on Roseanne, Newhart and The Larry Sanders Show), Texas is filming in Albuquerque, N.M.
Boulevard Pictures, the film arm of Whitsett Hill Entertainment, and Miami-based Wolfgang Cinema are financing the film. Peace Arch Films is handling foreign distribution.
- 10/26/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.