After Dark Films to release "After Dark Originals" in September

After Dark Films has just put out a press release announcing “After Dark Originals.” This is a set of eight original horror films, produced in association with Lionsgate and NBC Universal’s Syfy, which will be released in September 2010. For the past few years, After Dark has been distributing an annual Horrorfest of “8 Films to Die For,” consisting of independent films picked up, packaged together under the “Afterdark Horrorfest” banner, and released in a handful of theatres nationwide, for one week. The 2009 edition of Horrorfest included a couple of original productions, financed by After Dark Films. Although theatrical revenues have been dwindling since the first Horrorfest in 2006, the label continues to sell well on home video, making “After Dark Originals” a viable concept.
Read the complete press release below:

Los Angeles, CA (March 11, 2010) — Building on the success and brand awareness of the After Dark Horrorfest 8 Films To Die For ®brand, After Dark Films, in cooperation with Lionsgate and NBC Universal’s Syfy, has created a new series, After Dark Originals (ADO).
 
Tapping into the vast and innovative talent of directors and filmmakers from Horrorfest’s acquisitions over the past 4 years, After Dark has taken the horror festival concept to a higher level.  After Dark Originals showcases eight new cutting edge horror films spanning the genre.  The mission is to create high quality horror films that provide After Dark full control from script concept through final editing.  The first installment of ADO includes Husk, Fertile Ground, Scream Of The Banshee, Prowl, The Task, Re-Kill, Seconds Apart and 51.  Notable directors and writers include Brett Simmons, whose short film Husk took Sundance by storm several years ago, Steven C. Miller of Automaton Transfusionfame, and previous After Dark writer/director Adam Gierasch (Autopsy).  All ADO films were shot in the US and Bulgaria.
 
“The writers and directors in our After Dark Originals line are outstanding. We are excited to showcase their work and to give a home to all this fresh young talent that we will continue to develop over time”, says After Dark Films owner and CEO, Courtney Solomon.
 
Currently seven of the eight films have been filmed and are in post-production.  The eighth to slated to start production this month. All eight Originals will be released in Third Quarter 2010 with a new and innovative marketing and release strategy.  Additionally, the second set of Originals has already been green lit and will start production in July 2010. 

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 About After Dark Films:
After Dark Films, an Independent motion picture studio, was formed in 2006 by director/filmmaker Courtney Solomon and Hong Kong based real estate magnate Allan Zeman.  After Dark Films’ first motion picture film release was An American Haunting (2006) starring Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland.  Co-founder and CEO Courtney Solomon wrote, produced, and directed this film under the newly formed After Dark Films banner.
 
After the release of An American Haunting, partners Solomon and Zeman formed a multi-year marketing and distribution deal for Horrorfest “8 Films To Die For®” between After Dark Films and Lionsgate Entertainment, with After Dark handling theatrical marketing & releases and Lionsgate handling the distribution of all ancillary forms of media (Home Video, Pay TV, Pay Per View). After Dark Films just released Horrorfest 4 in theaters on January 29, 2010.
 
Building on the success of Horrorfest, After Dark will release the first 8 films of originally produced horror films in September 2010 under the moniker After Dark Originals.