New York-based Fortress Investment Group has acquired Curzon, the UK’s leading art house exhibitor and distributor, the two companies announced on Tuesday.
The deal gives Fortress control of 16 Curzon theatres, representing 46 screens, across the UK, its distribution arm Curzon Film and its Curzon home cinema streaming platform. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. Fortress managing director Allison Swayze said the company will support Curzon’s near-term plans to “expand its cinematic footprint, and deliver awards and release plans for an exciting slate of films. Our acquisition from 350 The surplus secures employees’ jobs, and helps Curzon continue to offer independent and blockbuster films to moviegoers both in theaters and at home.
This is the second time Curzon has changed hands in less than five years, following Cohen Media Group’s acquisition of the company in 2019.
Fortress, which manages about $48 billion in assets, has been busy with UK spending of late. In April, the company acquired UK discount retailer Poundstretcher to add to its British businesses Majestic Wine and Punch Pub.
Curzon is one of the oldest British cinema companies. Dating back to 1934, it is credited with helping to bring international cinema to the island, screening some of the first foreign-language films in the UK, its distribution arm, Artificial Eye, which in 2006 Curzon Became part of the group, released features like Bong Joon. Hose, the highest-grossing foreign-language film of all time at the UK box office, and most recently, the Iranian drama by Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Saneeha, which grossed over $250,000 in the UK, and Rich Peppiatt. , which grossed over $2.5 million at the British and Irish box office.
Curzon’s upcoming releases include Latvia’s Oscar entry and Leonardo van Dijkel’s, Belgium’s Academy Award collection.
In 2010, Curzon launched its own streaming service, which now serves about 6.5 million households.
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