After US and UK divisions shut down
In May, Tartan’s U.S. branch announced it was faced with financial woes. This was followed by the complete shut down of both Tartan U.S. and Tartan UK. Shock has received the following press release announcing good news for those orphaned films Tartan had to bid farewell to.
Fans of Tartan Films’ unique brand of entertainment can take comfort in knowing that the quality films they have come to know and love will continue to be released. Not long after purchasing Tartan’s US library of world-renowned and often controversial feature-length independent films, Palisades Media now owns the majority of the illustrious parent companyâs film library assets as well, as was announced today by Palisades co-manager Kevin Burns.
Established over a quarter of a century ago in the UK, Tartan Films and Video was the longest-running and leading independent UK DVD & Blu-ray distributor in the world. Known for its diverse range of intelligent and cutting-edge films, Tartanâs critical and commercial successes included BLACK BOOK, FAST FOOD NATION, THE DEATH OF MR. LAZARESCU, THE PROPOSITION, SECRETARY, MYSTERIOUS SKIN, and many more. The library also features Tartan’s “Asia Extreme©” line of horror films, some of the best and most twisted cinema from the Far East, including such cult favorites as the 2004 Cannes Grand Jury Prize Winner OLDBOY and Kinji Fukasakuâs incomparable BATTLE ROYALE.
“There’s no denying Hamish McAlpine (former owner of Tartan Films) had a brilliant eye for cinema. He amassed and distributed an extraordinary amount of thought-provoking and avant-garde films in three continents no less, and exposed audiences world-wide to some really remarkable and astonishing work,” said Burns. “We are thrilled to own the rights to the majority of both Tartan libraries and look forward to giving these films the kind of treatment they deserve and the attention that fans of independent cinema will truly appreciate.”
Palisades hopes to start releasing new titles this winter in the US beginning with a host of Asia Extreme titles. The next month will feature a diverse slate of independent films. Boxsets, 2-packs and blu-rays are also in the works. All upcoming UK releases are still TBD.
Source: Palisades Media Group
