Amidst the major turmoil in the film market, Leon Film Group remains the leading Italian distributor of the finest English-language independent films, covering all genres with titles from directors such as Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
But whereas in the past, Lion Film Group relied on production deals with American independents like Lionsgate and Spielberg’s Amblin, these days Lion Film Group “sources from whoever has interesting products,” says Francesco Polimante, the company’s chief acquisitions officer. That includes titles like the recent hit “Civil War” starring Kirsten Dunst, “John Wick 4” with Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin, and the upcoming “Foolish Money.”
In May, Polimante made a buying spree at Cannes, snapping up three films from Black Bear Entertainment, including Guy Ritchie’s upcoming “The Wife and the Dog,” set in the world of the British aristocracy. It’s Ritchie’s fifth film to be released in Italy through Leone. Black Bear Entertainment’s other two films are the upcoming action thriller “Insurrection,” starring Jason Statham, and the provocative thriller “I Want Your Sex,” starring Olivia Wilde.
Other notable products in LFG's upcoming product line include:
The lineup includes “Sugar Bandits,” starring Will Smith and directed by Stefano Sollima from Stewart Ford’s AGC Studios; “Sunny Dancer,” produced by British independent Embankment Films, starring “The Last of Us” star Bella Ramsey as a teenage cancer survivor; thriller “Fuze,” starring David Mackenzie and Aaron Taylor-Johnson from London-based Anton; and “Daddio,” directed by Christy Hall, which was a huge hit in Telluride.
“We handle all kinds of films, from Pablo Larrain’s ‘Spencer’ to ‘John Wick,’” says Polimante, who adds that Lionsgate’s Keanu Reeves-led action series — LFG executive produced “John Wick 2,” by the way — has been doing well in Italy.
“It has been exciting to watch them build their amazing family legacy,” said Helen Lee Kim, President, International Business, Lionsgate Film Group.
Despite the growth of LFG's production side, “the distribution side still represents almost half of the group's revenues in the balance of business,” which amounted to €86.6 million ($94.5 million) in 2023, Polimante notes.
In April, Leoni and RAI Cinema’s 01 Distribuzione successfully released A24’s “Civil War” in theaters in Italy, marking LFG’s first collaboration with A24 and the latest in a long line of titles it has collaborated on with RAI Cinema’s 01 Distribution. The cinema arm of Italian state broadcaster RAI and LFG have been working together on joint releases for more than a decade, so “it feels like we’re a team,” says Polimante.
Paolo Del Brocco, president of RAI Cinema, described the relationship between them as “profitable and fruitful”.
Their upcoming Italian releases include Gabriele Muccino’s “Here Now,” starring Elena Kampouris (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3”) as a young Californian girl named Sophie who, on the last day of her vacation in Sicily, meets a boy with whom she has a crazy night. Also set to screen is Paolo Genovese’s comedy “Follemente.” Lotus also produces “Here Now” and “Follemente.”
Finally, returning to its roots, LFG will soon re-release the Director's Cut of Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America in a new 4K edition.
“It fills me with great pride to bring this timeless film back to the public 40 years after its original release,” said Andrea Leone, Chairman and CEO of Leone Film Group. “I am confident that this re-release will touch the hearts of new generations and renew the passions of those who already loved this film.”
