Press Releases

European Experts Debate 'Diminished Rule' at Berlin International Film Festival Following World Premiere of 'Standard Operating Procedure'

LOS ANGELES, CA [ March 3, 2008 ]

Participant Media and Sony Pictures Classics hosted a lively and provocative social action discussion at the Berlin International Film Festival, “Diplomacy in the Age of Terror: The Impact of Diminished Rule of Law on International Relations.”

'The Kite Runner' Inspires Gift Through One Laptop Per Child

LOS ANGELES, CA [ December 12, 2007 ]

In advance of the December 14 release of the film The Kite Runner, Paramount Classics and DreamWorks Pictures are donating 500 XO laptops through One Laptop per Child (OLPC).

'Angels in the Dust' to be Screened in Honor of World AIDS Day

BEVERLY HILLS, CA [ November 29, 2007 ]

In honor of World AIDS Day, December 1st, Cinema Libre Studio and Participant Productions’ critically-acclaimed documentary, Angels in the Dust, will be screened at approximately 54 universities and high schools across the U.S.

Participant Productions & State Street Pictures to Ride the Wave of Bobby Martinez

LOS ANGELES, CA [ November 19, 2007 ]

Participant Productions is teaming with State Street Pictures producers Bob Teitel and George Tillman to develop the astonishing true story Bobby Martinez, one of the top professional surfers and the first Mexican-American on the world tour.

Participant Productions Launches Television Division, Names Respected Industry Veteran John Moser as Vice President

LOS ANGELES, CA [ November 8, 2007 ]

Participant Productions is further expanding its content offerings by launching a television department and has hired longtime executive John Moser to serve as Vice President of the division.

'The Kite Runner Club' Becomes National Phenomena in Final Weeks

HOLLYWOOD, CA [ November 8, 2007 ]

Paramount Classics' promotional online site “The Kite Runner Club”, in support of their upcoming film, The Kite Runner, has become a phenomenon with over 14,000 people participating and over 1,000 groups formed.

City of West Hollywood to Co-Sponsor a Special Screening of the Film 'Angels in the Dust' at the Pacific Design Center

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA [ September 19, 2007 ]

The City of West Hollywood and Participant Productions are hosting a special screening of the film Angels in the Dust on Thursday, September 20, 2007.

Overture Films Picks Up North American Rights to Writer-Director Tom McCarthy's 'The Visitor' at Toronto Fest

LOS ANGELES, CA [ September 11, 2007 ]

Overture Films, Groundswell Productions and Participant Productions jointly announced today that a distribution deal has been reached on writer-director Tom McCarthy’s The Visitor.

Jonathan Demme's 'Jimmy Carter Man From Plains' Wins Three Awards at the Venice Film Festival

TORONTO, CANADA [ September 10, 2007 ]

Academy Award®-winner Jonathan Demme’s documentary Jimmy Carter Man From Plains was awarded three prizes at the Venice Film Festival this weekend.
 

Sony Pictures Clasics Acquires North American Rights to Jonathan Demme's 'Jimmy Carter Man From Plains'

NEW YORK, NY [ August 16, 2007 ]

It was announced today that Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights from Participant Productions to Academy Award® winner Jonathan Demme’s documentary Jimmy Carter Man From Plains.

'Angels in the Dust' Opens Sept. 28 in LA

LOS ANGELES, CA [ August 22, 2007 ]

Documentary on AIDS Orphanage in South Africa opens September 28, 2007 at Laemmle's Music Hall Theatre.

'Angels in the Dust' Gets Guardian Angels

LOS ANGELES, CA [ August 16, 2007 ]

Actress Alicia Witt (Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Upside of Anger) has signed on as a spokesperson for the Boikarabelo orphanage, around which the film centers.

Participant Productions to Present Feature-Length Documentary Inspired by Historic Live Earth Concert Event

LOS ANGELES, CA [ July 2, 2007 ]

Participant Productions will present a feature-length documentary inspired by Live Earth directed by Brian Hill, it was announced by Jim Berk, CEO of Participant Productions. Brian Hill’s Century Films and Katie Bailiff will produce.

Robert Murphy Named Chief Financial Officer of Participant Productions

LOS ANGELES, CA [ June 19, 2007 ]

Robert Murphy has joined Participant Productions as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President, it was announced today by Jim Berk, CEO of Participant.

Bonnie Abaunza and Liana Schwarz Named Vice Presidents of Social Action Campaign Development and Operations

LOS ANGELES, CA [ June 12, 2007 ]

Bonnie Abaunza and Liana Schwarz have joined Participant Productions as Vice Presidents of Social Action Campaign Development and Operations, it was announced today by Jim Berk, CEO of Participant.

Lynn Hirshfield Named Vice President of Business Development of Participant Productions

LOS ANGELES, CA [ May 24, 2007 ]

Lynn Hirshfield has joined Participant Productions as Vice President of Business Development, it was announced today by Ricky Strauss, President of Participant.

Jonathan King Named Executive Vice President of Production of Participant Productions

LOS ANGELES, CA [ April 11, 2007 ]

Jonathan King has joined Participant Productions as Executive Vice President in charge of Production, it was announced today by Jim Berk, CEO of Participant.

John Schreiber to Head Corporate and Community Affairs for Participant Productions

LOS ANGELES, CA [ January 17, 2007 ]

John Schreiber is joining Participant Productions in the newly created position of EVP, Social Action and Advocacy, it was announced today by Jim Berk, CEO, Participant Productions.

Shutt & Jones to Head Marketing for Participant

LOS ANGELES, CA [ January 8, 2007 ]

Buffy Shutt and Kathy Jones, who have held the top marketing spots at four major studios, will be joining Participant Productions to strategize and orchestrate marketing of all ventures in which the company is involved, it was announced today by Jim Berk, CEO, Participant.

Errol Morris Documents Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal; Sony Pictures Classics and Participant Productions Team

NEW YORK, NY [ November 9, 2006 ]

Errol Morris, Academy Award winning director of The Fog of War, is at work on a new documentary about the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, it was confirmed today jointly by Sony Pictures Classics' co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard and by Participant Productions’ President, Ricky Strauss.