HBO Sells Theatrical Rights to 'Behind the Candelabra' for U.K., Other Countries

Courtesy of HBO

Entertainment One will release the Steven Soderbergh Cannes entry with Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in Britain, while Village Roadshow will show it in Australia.

LONDON -- HBO has reached a number of international theatrical distribution deals for HBO Films’ Liberace biopic Behind the Candelabra.

Entertainment One has picked up the Steven Soderbergh Cannes competition entry starring Michael Douglas and Matt Damon for the U.K.; Village Roadshow will show it in Australia; ARP has taken the movie for France; DCM for Germany and Switzerland; and A Company Filmed Entertainment for Central Europe.

The first foreign theatrical release will be in the U.K. on June 7. In Australia, a late July premiere is scheduled, while the film will open in France in early September.
In other deals, Medusa has taken the film for Italy; Dutch Filmworks has acquired rights for Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg; First Distributors has struck a deal for Hong Kong and Hollywood Entertainment will release it in Greece.
Candelabra has also sold to Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Scandinavia, Israel and Japan. Similar deals in other regions are pending, according to HBO.
“Behind the Candelabra has exceeded all expectations,” said producer Jerry Weintraub. “I couldn’t have imagined better treatment of a film. From the world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival to HBO’s high-profile launch in the U.S. to these prominent theatrical distributors releasing internationally, the movie has delivered on all levels.”
“We’re thrilled by the reception that Behind the Candelabra received from international distributors, critics and audiences alike at Cannes,” said Charles Schreger, president of programming sales at HBO. “These deals further solidify HBO’s place as a major global player in licensing and distribution and reflects the continuing interest in the caliber of our original films and the talent attached to them.”