Lightning Entertainment Acquires International Rights To WHOLE LOTTA SOLE Starring Brendan Fraser & Timur Bekmambetov’s 3D Animated KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE

Dynamic international distribution company Lightning Entertainment has picked up international rights to two new feature films making their market premieres; the comedy WHOLE LOTTA SOLE starring Brendan Fraser (THE MUMMY franchise) and directed by Oscar winner Terry George (HOTEL RWANDA) and KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE, the Russian 3D animated-adventure comedy film from the Riki Group and produced by Timur Bekmambetov (WANTED), it was announced today by Robert Beaumont, President of Lightning Entertainment.

The dramatic comedy WHOLE LOTTA SOLE world premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival and received rave reviews from critics, whilst KIKORIKI comes to the market hot on the heels of its impressive $8.5 million box office run in its native Russia.

“Lightning continues to acquire top-notch material to present to international buyers with WHOLE LOTTA SOLE from the talented Terry George and the Russian animated adventure, KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE from powerhouse producer Timur Bekmambetov,” commented Beaumont. “Both films are highly accessible, crowd-pleasing and most importantly, thoroughly entertaining features with universal appeal,” he continued.

Acclaimed Irish filmmaker George won an Oscar this year for his live-action short film, THE SHORE starring Ciaran Hinds.  George has been nominated twice before;  Best Original Screenplay for Don Cheadle starrer HOTEL RWANDA which he also directed and produced and Best Adapted Screenplay for IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER co-written with Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis, which was nominated for an additional six Oscars. He also directed Focus Features’ RESERVATION ROAD starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Connelly and Mira Sorvino.

WHOLE LOTTA SOLE tells the story of Jimbo, who in a misguided attempt to protect his family and pay back gambling debts to the local mobster, robs a fish market which is owned by the same gangland boss Mad Dog Flynn and finds himself in a hostage standoff surrounded by the police.

Martin McCann (CLASH OF THE TITANS) stars as Jimbo alongside leading comedic actor Fraser (THE MUMMY franchise), Colm Meaney (THE DAMNED UNITED), YaYa DaCosta (THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT) and David O’Hara (HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1).

WHOLE LOTTA SOLE is written by Thomas Gallagher and George, who also produces with Simon Bosanquet (upcoming ROMEO AND JULIET), David Gorder (X MEN: THE LAST STAND) and Jay Russell (THE WATER HORSE). WME is handling domestic rights in the US.  Richard S. Guardian negotiated the deal for Lightning Entertainment and is serving as a consultant on the film for Lightning.

3D animated film, KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE is an family friendly adventure comedy produced by Ilya Popov and veteran producer/director Timur Bekmambetov, the director/producer behind Universal’s hit action blockbuster WANTED starring Angelina Jolie and 20^th Century Fox’s upcoming ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, produced with Tim Burton.

Based on the internationally successful Russian animated series of the same name, this first film in the series is written by Alexei Lebedev and directed by Denis Chernov. The English language version screening at the market is written by a US team led by Mike de Seve, who was a storyline consultant on two of DreamWorks’ worldwide box office animated hits, SHREK THE THIRD and MONSTERS VS ALIENS.   KIKORIKI: TEAM INVINCIBLE marks the first full-length Russian film production to be made in stereoscopic 3D.

The film centers on the lovable inhabitants of the remote island of Kikoriki. They have it all: big laughs, good friends, and a distant paradise unspoiled by modern woes. But the lives of the Kikoriki gang are suddenly turned upside-down when they stumble on a strange device they had only heard about – a television.

Lightning’s high profile Cannes slate also includes LOVE AND HONOR starring Liam Hemsworth (THE HUNGER GAMES) making its market debut in Cannes; the star-studded comedy STRUCK BY LIGHTNING starring Glee’s Chris Colfer and Rebel Wilson (BRIDESMAIDS) which emerged as a hit at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and also makes its market debut in Cannes; the comedy THE HOT FLASHES starring Brooke Shields, Daryl Hannah, Virginia Madsen, Camryn Manheim and Wanda Sykes; the comedy SERVITUDE starring Joe Dinicol (the CW’s The L.A. Complex), written by Michael Sparaga (SIDEKICK) and directed by acclaimed film director Warren P. Sonoda (TEXTUALITY), also screening for the first time at a market; the thrillers BLACK SOUTH-EASTER and ONE LAST LOOK and family film HEAVEN’S DOOR starring Charisma Carpenter (upcoming THE EXPENDABLES 2) and Joanna Cassidy (HBO’s Six Feet Under). Lightning will also screen Australian sci-film, THE 25^th REICH starring Jim Knobeloch, Dan Balcaban and Jak Wyld and will be showing first footage from THE HOT FLASHES, ONE LAST LOOK and HEAVEN’S DOOR.