UNDEFEATED Exclusive Media Closes Int’l Territories For Oscar-winning Doc

Following a triumphant win at this year’s Oscar ceremony, Exclusive Media has sold international rights in a number of key territories to its Academy Award® Winning documentary feature film UNDEFEATED, it was announced today by Exclusive Media, President of International Sales and Distribution, Alex Walton.

Deals have been completed with the leading documentary distributor Dogwoof in the UK and to Madman Entertainment in Australia as well as with CDC in Latin America, Independent Films in Benelux, Impuls Pictures/Rialto in Switzerland, Sam Films in Iceland and United King in Israel. Additional sales were made withCathay in Singapore, PT Amero in Indonesia, Lots Home Entertainment in Taiwan and M Pictures in Thailand. Negotiations are currently underway with a number of remaining territories.

On finalizing the sales, Walton said, “UNDEFEATED is a universally crowd pleasing film exploring the triumph of the human spirit and it is attracting some of the leading documentary distributors from around the world including Dogwoof and Madman.  This is a film that deserves to be seen and our first class international partners are bringing it to the widest audience possible.”

Dogwoof founder Andy Whittaker continued, “We are delighted to be partnering with Exclusive Media to bring this exceptional film to UK audiences.  It was clear from the initial meetings that Exclusive Media share our passion for good film and we look forward to producing an innovative marketing plan for this deserved Oscar® winning film.”

UNDEFEATED was produced by Exclusive Media’s documentary arm Spitfire Pictures and Zipper Bros Films,’ in association with Level 22 and Five Smooth Stones Productions. The film opened in the US on February 17^th through The Weinstein Company and expanded nationwide during the course of the following weeks, driven by the strength of its word of mouth momentum.

UNDEFEATED was directed by Dan Lindsay (LAST CUP: ROAD TO THE WORLD SERIES OF BEER PONG) and T.J. Martin (ON THE ROCKS). Glen Zipper, Exclusive Media’s Head of Documentary Features, produced the film alongside Rich Middlemas, co-director Dan Lindsay, Seth Gordon and Ed Cunningham. Exclusive Media’s Co-Chairmen Nigel Sinclair and Guy East executive produced the film with Zipper Bros Films President Dr. Ralph Zipper, Chris Miller, Sean Combs, Paolo Coppola, Neeraj Kohli, Michele Farinola and Jillian Longnecker, Exclusive Media’s SVP, Head of Physical Productions.

Set against the backdrop of an American football season, UNDEFEATED is a coming-of-age vérité-style documentary film that gives us an intimate glimpse into the lives of an underprivileged group of inner-city Memphis teens and their inspirational coach, Bill Courtney, as they attempt to make history and win their school’s first playoff game in 110 years. Focusing more on creating winning young men than winning football games, Courtney struggles to provide them with the discipline, resources and confidence they’ll need to overcome what seem like impossible circumstances both on and off the field.

UNDEFEATED world premiered at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival to critical acclaim where it was acquired by The Weinstein Company for US distribution. The film continued to garner further accolades winning the audience award at the Chicago International Film Festival and nominations for Best Documentary Feature at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards, Houston Film Critics Society and Black Reel Awards. The film was additionally selected for numerous film festivals including the Toronto International Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival.

Exclusive Media is a major force in the production and international distribution arena. Recent production titles include the worldwide box office hit THE WOMAN IN BLACK starring Daniel Radcliffe currently in theaters nationwide through CBS Films, and George Clooney’s THE IDES OF MARCH produced by Smokehouse Pictures and co-produced by Exclusive Media with Cross Creek Pictures.

Exclusive Media’s current production slate also includes Ron Howard’s epic RUSH starring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl and produced with production partners Cross Creek Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Brian Grazer, and Revolution Films; END OF WATCH starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña, Anna Kendrick and America Ferrera set for release through Open Road Films on September 28; SO UNDERCOVER starring Miley Cyrus, SNITCH starring Dwayne Johnson and Susan Sarandon in post-production; THE QUIET ONES to be directed by John Pogue and BONESHAKER to be produced with Cross Creek Pictures.

Other recent titles from Exclusive Media’s documentary film division, Spitfire Pictures, include the Grammy Award winning FOO FIGHTERS: BACK AND FORTH produced in association with Allentown Productions and Martin Scorsese’s award winning GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD produced by Martin Scorsese, Nigel Sinclair and Olivia Harrison.