Marc Butan

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MadRiver Pictures, together with CAA Media Finance, has closed a multi-year equity financing and distribution deal with some of the world’s biggest indie distributors to allow them to fully finance a slate of mid-budget ($25 million – $75 million) theatrical films.

Under the deal, MadRiver will essentially pre-sell rights to its international partners on films financed under the venture, allowing it to bankroll and greenlight movies before selling them into the U.S..

The venture, which aims to produce 2-3 films a year, will focus on star-driven action, thriller and adventure features, precisely the sort of movies that the international market is hungry for but can be a challenge to pre-sell domestically.

MadRiver’s international partners include Spain’s DeAPlaneta, Eagle Pictures in Italy, German/Austrian distributor Leonine Studios, France’s SND, IDC Distribution in Latin America, Shochiku in Japan, Italia Film in the Middle East and Unicorn Media in Eastern Europe. Under the agreement, the local partners will have rights in the respective territories for the films financed by the venture. CAA Media Finance and MadRiver’s sister sales company The Veterans will handle worldwide sales on all remaining territories.

“The ability to provide talent with greenlight certainty and greater creative control, while also guaranteeing world-class theatrical distribution, will allow us to keep coveted commercial projects with A-list talent in the independent marketplace,” Marc Butan, MadRiver founder and CEO, said in a statement.

Butan and CAA Media Finance set up the venture with the support The Veterans. MadRiver will announce the first title to be produced under the venture ahead of next week’s Cannes Film Market. The project will begin shooting this fall.