Participant Productions Partners With THINKFilm on Release of Multiple Prize-Winner 'Murderball'

Participant Productions Partners with THINKFilm on Release of Multiple Prize-Winner Murderball
Film Set for Release on July 8th, 2005

LOS ANGELES, CA, June 23, 2005--Participant Productions, the Los Angeles based entertainment company founded in 2004 by eBay pioneer and philanthropist Jeff Skoll, will partner with THINKFilm and MTV Films for the upcoming July release of the acclaimed film Murderball, it was announced today by Participant Productions President Ricky Strauss. Murderball is set to be a co-presentation from THINKFilm and MTV Films in association with Participant Productions and A&E IndieFilms, who was an early partner on the film.

Murderball tells the story of a group of world-class athletes unlike any ever shown on screen. In addition to smashing chairs, it smashes every stereotype about “gimps” and “cripples.” And, it’s a film about family, revenge, honor, sex (yes, they can) and the triumph of love over loss. But most of all, it is a film about standing up, even after your spirit – and your spine – has been crushed. Murderball, winner of two major prizes at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, is based on an article by Dana Adam Shapiro, who directed the film with Henry Alex Rubin. The film was produced by Jeffrey Mandel and Dana Adam Shapiro.

“When a movie like Murderball comes along that has the strength to inspire, educate, empower and entertain audiences - we want to be a part of it,” said Strauss.

“Everyone at Participant saw the potential in this film and when a group this passionate wants to become part of your team, you only stand to gain by combining resources,” said THINKFilm President and CEO Jeff Sackman, who served as an executive producer on the film. 

Currently, Participant is co-producing, with Warner Bros, Syriana, written and directed by Stephen Gaghan and starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, and Untitled Niki Caro Project, directed by Niki Caro (Whalerider) and starring Charlize Theron. Scheduled to begin production this fall is Fast Food Nation for which Participant holds North American rights.

Inspired by Eric Schlosser’s bestseller Fast Food Nation, the film will be directed by Richard Linklater and written by Schlosser and Linklater.

Additional Participant projects include Good Night, and Good Luck, the story of renowned broadcaster Edward R. Murrow’s legendary on-air confrontations with Senator Joseph McCarthy that helped bring down the infamous politician, directed by and starring George Clooney; IFC Films’ American Gun, an ensemble piece about gun proliferation in America, starring Donald Sutherland, Forest Whitaker and Marcia Gay Harden, and the documentary, The World According to Sesame Street.

Murderball is a THINKFilm production that has garnered multiple awards including two major prizes at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. THINKFilm’s star-studded comedy extravaganza, The Aristocrats, which the company acquired at Sundance, is set to open July 29, 2005. A privately held film distributor with offices in New York City and Toronto, THINKFilm represents specialized cinema at its best - bold, business-oriented, yet fiercely and financially independent. THINKFilm was founded by President/CEO Jeff Sackman in September of 2001. Robert Lantos is the Chairman and Mark Urman is the Head of the U.S. Theatrical Division.

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