Tom Ortenberg Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic rights to the comedy Not Another Church Movie, starring Jamie Foxx, Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Daniels, Mickey Rourke and more, slating it for a wide release in theaters on May 10th.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired The Lost Weekend: A Love Story, the documentary feature in which May Pang discusses her whirlwind love affair with singer John Lennon, when she was just 22 years old and his assistant. The film, which premiered at Tribeca, is directed by Eve Brandstein, Richard Kaufman, and Stuart Samuels. The tale is told through May’s inside perspective, capturing a love affair that shaped a prolific period for Lennon post-Beatles.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has snapped up North American distribution rights from Concourse Media to Christian Swegal’s true crime thriller, Sovereign, starring Nick Offerman, Dennis Quaid, and Jacob Tremblay.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Grandave Intl. has acquired the international sales rights of sports drama feature film “Sweetwater,” starring Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award winner Jeremy Piven and Academy Award nominated actor Richard Dreyfuss. Other cast include SAG Award nominated actor Cary Elwes, SAG Award winner Kevin Pollak, and rising star Everett Osborne. The film will be released in the U.S. by Universal and Briarcliff Entertainment, in partnership with the NBA. It is written and directed by Martin Guigui (“The Bronx Bull,” “9/11”). The producers are Tim Moore (“American Sniper”), Dahlia Guigui (“9/11”), Darren Moorman (“Blue Miracle”), and Josi Konski (“Babette’s Feast”).

The Hollywood Reporter.The film will be Slade’s directorial debut.According to Deadline, the film will follow the events that transpired that day and will ask the question of why these massacres continue to happen.“The Kent State shooting was a dark and pivotal moment in our nation’s history. This is a story that needs to be told and surprisingly never has,” producer Tom Ortenberg told the outlet in Sept.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Christian Gudegast’s action thriller sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera which stars Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr. reprising their respective roles of “Big Nick” and “Donnie”. A wide theatrical release is planned for Q4 of 2024.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has taken domestic distribution rights to Sight starring Terry Chen (Almost Famous, Falling) and Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine, As Good as It Gets). A wide theatrical release has been set for Oct. 27.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired North American rights to The Hill, an inspirational true life sports drama starring Dennis Quaid, scripted by Angelo Pizzo & Scott Marshall Smith and directed by Jeff Celentano. Quaid starred in one of the most successful fact based sports films in recent memory with The Rookie, and Pizzo wrote two of the best true sports films in Rudy and Hoosiers. Celentano helmed Gunshy and Breaking Point.                                 

Brent Lang Executive Editor Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired domestic distribution rights to “Sweetwater,” a recently completed feature about Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African American to land an NBA contract. The drama is written and directed by Martín Guigui and stars newcomer Everett Osborne as Clifton. The ensemble includes veteran actors such as Kevin Pollak, Cary Elwes, Jeremy Piven, Richard Dreyfuss and Robert Ri’chard. There are also special appearances by Gary Clark Jr., Jim Caviezel and NBA champion Bobby Portis Jr.  The film follows Clifton (Osborn), who is the star attraction of the Harlem Globetrotters, led by owner/coach Abe Saperstein (Pollak). When New York Knicks executive Ned Irish (Elwes) and Knicks coach Joe Lapchick (Piven) decide it is time for the Knicks to integrate, with the support of NBA President Maurice Podoloff (Dreyfuss), they come together with the other team owners of the league to make history. Briarcliff will give the film a wide theatrical release on April 14, 2023. 

announced in 2020, “Kandahar” follows Tom Harris (Butler), an undercover CIA operative stationed in hostile territory in Afghanistan. When his mission is exposed, he and his Afghan translator (Navid Negahban) must fight their way past foreign spies and enemy forces on their way to an extraction point in Kandahar.“Kandahar” sees Butler reteam with his “Angel Has Fallen” and “Greenland” director Ric Roman Waugh.

EXCLUSIVE: Open Road Films has acquired North American rights to Gerard Butler action thriller Kandahar in a splashy eight-figure deal (low teens, we understand).

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to the gripping historical drama Kent State from writer, director Karen Slade. The film will star Dermot Mulroney, Clancy Brown, Aksel Hennie, Christopher Backus, Christopher Ammanuel, Andrew Ortenberg and Jacqueline Emerson.

EXCLUSIVE: Open Road Films has acquired North American rights to Marlowe, a noir crime thriller that stars Liam Neeson atop an ensemble that includes Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Danny Huston, Alan Cumming, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian Hart, Colm Meaney, Daniela Melchior and Francois Arnaud. Neil Jordan directed the film from script by The Departed’s William Monahan. The film will be released theatrically December 2 through Open Road/Briarcliff Entertainment.

EXCLUSIVE: Film Bridge International and 19th Hole Productions have shot and are ready to shop the end-of-the-world YA romance When I’m Ready, starring up and comers Andrew Ortenberg and June Schreiner along with Thalia Besson, Dermot Mulroney and Lauren Cohan.

UPDATED with trailer: Briarcliff Entertainment on Tuesday dropped the trailer for Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down, the upcoming documentary from RBG and Julia directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen.

EXCLUSIVE: Raquel Nave has signed with Paradigm, after wrapping a breakout role in the dramatic thriller Black Flies from Open Road and Sculptor Media. The film from director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire (A Prayer Before Dawn), based on Shannon Burke’s novel of the same name, has her starring alongside Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, Katherine Waterston, Michael Pitt and Mike Tyson.

EXCLUSIVE: Raquel Nave has signed with APA, after wrapping a breakout role in the dramatic thriller Black Flies from Open Road and Sculptor Media. The film from director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire (A Prayer Before Dawn), based on Shannon Burke’s novel of the same name, has her starring alongside Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan, Katherine Waterston, Michael Pitt and Mike Tyson.

EXCLUSIVE: Boardwalk Empire actor Michael Pitt has joined Open Road and Sculptor Media’s drama-thriller Black Flies opposite Sean Penn, Tye Sheridan and Katherine Waterston.

EXCLUSIVE: Fantastic Beasts franchise star Katherine Waterston is boarding the drama thriller Black Flies opposite 2x Oscar winner Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan.

Machine Gun Kelly (aka Colson Baker) has released the first trailer for Good Mourning, his directorial debut as a filmmaker. First announced last August, it was confirmed last week that Good Mourning – a stoner comedy that Baker co-wrote, directed and stars in alongside fellow musician Mod Sun, fiancée Megan Fox and close friend Pete Davidson – will arrive on May 20. It’ll land simultaneously in cinemas and on demand, though it’s not clear as of yet which platform will host the film’s digital release.Baker stars in the film as London Clash, an actor in the midst of an existential crisis.

Briarcliff Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down, the new documentary from directors Betsy West and Julie Cohen.

Machine Gun Kelly is now a director. The musician, whose real name is Colson Baker, directed and wrote the movie “Good Mourning” alongside Mod Sun, counting with the participation of a variety of singers and actors, including Megan Fox, Becky G, Pete Davidson, and more.Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly are planning a ‘dark’ weddingMachine Gun Kelly talks about his friendship with Pete DavidsonA post shared by the Blonde Don (@machinegunkelly)“Good Morning” is described as a stoner comedy, following London Ramson (Colson Baker) a movie star whose world is turned upside down when he receives a breakup text from the love of his life right before the most important meeting of his career.

Machine Gun Kelly will bolster his filmography next month with Good Mourning, a stoner comedy that he co-wrote, directed and stars in alongside fellow musician Mod Sun, fiancée Megan Fox and close friend Pete Davidson.First announced last August without a release date, it was confirmed this week that Good Mourning will arrive on May 20. It’ll land simultaneously in cinemas and on demand, though it’s not clear as of yet which platform will host the film’s digital release.Open Road Films will distribute it, with the cast rounded out by names like Becky G, Dove Cameron and Whitney Cummings.According to a press release, MGK – billed here under his real name, Colson Baker – will play the role of London Ransom, an actor in the midst of an existential crisis.

Ellise Shafer “Good Mourning,” the feature-length directorial debut of pop-punk musicians Colson Baker (better known as his stage name Machine Gun Kelly) and Mod Sun, has set its U.S. theatrical and TVOD release for May 20.Billed as a stoner comedy, “Good Mourning” stars Baker, Sun and Megan Fox.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment, in partnership with Open Road Films, has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Memory, an action vehicle that stars Liam Neeson and is directed by Martin Campbell.

EXCLUSIVE: Briarcliff Entertainment, with The Solution Entertainment Group and Sina Studios, is set to distribute Blacklight, the new action thriller starring Liam Neeson and directed by Mark Williams. A wide domestic theatrical release has been set for over 2000 theatres on February 11, 2022.

coronavirus pandemic.Neeson, who has received his first vaccination shot, will celebrate its return by appearing at AMC Lincoln Square to personally thank movie fans and introduce his latest action flick, The Marksman.“This is one for the diary,” Neeson told The Hollywood Reporter. “It will be nice to welcome people.

shunned the documentary for fear of backlash from the Saudi Arabian government.Though it was finally acquired by Tom Ortenberg’s Briarcliff Entertainment back in September, Fogel says in an interview with TheWrap that not one of the major streamers or distributors “stepped forward” to acquire the film because of the influence that Saudi Arabia has over the entertainment business.Also Read: Jamal Khashoggi's Fiancee Says Bryan Fogel's Documentary 'The Dissident' Saved Her Life (Video)“In terms of

EXCLUSIVE: Open Road Films has another Liam Neeson action movie, The Marksman, and they’ll be going wide with the pic on Jan. 22, 2021.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorEXCLUSIVE: Open Road Films, back under the oversee of its founder Tom Ortenberg, has acquired domestic on the feature adaptation of the Anna Todd YA sequel After We Collided from Voltage.Open Road has set a limited theatrical day and date release with PVOD for Oct. 23. Cruel Intentions’ Roger Kumble directs off a screenplay by Todd and Mario Celaya.

The Dissident, Bryan Fogel's documentary feature about the 2018 killing ofWashington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi Arabia, which has been likened in reviews to the narrative thriller Spotlight, will be distributed in the U.S. by Briarcliff Entertainment.

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: In a big shot in the arm for the independent distribution game as Virtual Cannes gets underway, Open Road Films is back up and running. Funding is in place from New York-based private equity firm Raven Capital Management’s principal James Mascielli with key support from Matt Sidari.

Oscar-winning producer Mark Johnson, whose credits range from Rain Man to Breaking Bad, Briarcliff Entertainment CEO Tom Ortenberg and The Pursuit of Happyness writer-director Steve Conrad have been called to the bench as judges for the Script2Screens short screenplay competition for emerging writers.Also joining the A-list judging panel is Rush Hour series producer Arthur M.

By Mike Fleming Jr

By Mike Fleming Jr