News
Sky Island's 'Small' bow
Pic a first to get distrib'n from Filipino region
By DAVID ROONEY
Steve Fagan, a veteran in the specialty film marketing and distribution arena, has announced the formation of his Sky Island Films banner, which launches in the fall with festival hit "Small Voices."
Directed by Gil M. Portes, the Filipino drama won an audience award at the Palm Springs Film Festival and also screened at the Toronto, AFI and Maui fests.
The humanist story of a young teacher in a poverty-stricken hinterlands school was picked up earlier this year by Warner Bros. for theatrical and homevideo release in the Philippines, marking the first time a locally produced feature scored a studio distribution deal in that territory.
Fagan is president of New York-based Sky Island, which has negotiations in progress for several other acquisitions. The company will handle foreign-language, specialized and American independent films.
During his 25 years in the sector, Fagan has been attached to such companies as New World Pictures, Cannon Releasing, MCEG Distribution, MK2 Prods. USA, Arrow Entertainment and Artistic License Films.
He handled U.S. releases "The Tin Drum," "Runaway Train," "Barfly," "Breaker Morant," "La Belle Noiseuse," "Ponette," "Bandit Queen" and "The Taste of Others."
Fagan will continue to work as marketing and distribution consultant to independent film companies and producers. His corporate clients have included Regent Entertainment, Palm Pictures and Manhattan Pictures Intl.
Date in print: Fri., Jun. 13, 2003, Gotham