During the 47th edition of Thessaloniki Film Festival (November 17th to 26th, 2006) BBC Worldwide and Greenlight Media have signed a major deal with Prooptiki SA (soon to be Audio Visual/Prooptiki), to distribute the BBC’s ambitious feature-length movie, earth.

Audio Visual/ Prooptiki will distribute the 90-minute feature in Greece and Cyprus as well as in a number of Balkan states, including Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro.
Audio Visual / Prooptiki is one of Greece’s most established distributors, secured the rights for the \$15m movie despite stiff competition from other major distributors. The deal was brokered by Eugenia Mitropoulos, and Mr Sophokles Tasioulis on behalf of BBC Worldwide and Greenlight Media.

Sophokles Tasioulis said: “I am particularly happy for earth to be released by such a strong partner in my home country of Greece. Securing Greece and the Balkan territories at such an early stage before Earth is even completed is a clear sign of the continuously growing importance of theatrical documentaries in the market place.”

Commenting on the agreement, earth’s executive producer Mike Phillips says: “It is terrific to see Audio Visual / Prooptiki join the growing list of great distributors who have been captivated by the dazzling footage and the important message delivered by earth.”

Eugenia Mitropoulos added: “Audio Visual / Prooptiki is proud to distribute such an overwhelming project, with never-before-seen scenery and unprecedented use of technology - an anthem to natural beauty.”
Five years in the making, earth is due for release in Autumn 2007. The movie follows the influence of the sun on life on earth and follows three animal families as they undertake three incredible journeys full of beauty, but also rife with danger as they undertake a miraculous journey around the planet. 

Directed by Alastair Fothergill, and involving the same successful team behind Deep Blue, the 90-minute epic has been shot in 35mm and High Definition. The film combines rare action‚ unimaginable scale‚ impossible locations and intimate moments among our planet’s best–loved‚ wildest‚ and most elusive creatures.

Audio Visual/Prooptiki will join Universum in Germany, GAGA in Japan, Gaumont in France, Wanda in Spain and Frenetic in Switzerland, as the exclusive distribution partners for earth, which follows on the international success of the BBC’s first feature-length documentary movie, Deep Blue.

Since its distribution in early 2004, Deep Blue continues to attract audiences in over 20 territories around the globe. Since launch the movie has been seen by over 3 million people and has generated revenue of around £30m.

Note to Editors

About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has seven core businesses: Global Channels, Global TV Sales, Magazines, Content & Production, Home Entertainment, Children's and Digital Media. In 2005/06 BBC Worldwide generated profits of £89 million on sales of £784 million.

Greenlight Media, a leading German production and international distribution company provides development, finance, production and distribution for international quality films. It is committed to delivering strong entertainment brands to audiences all around the world in both film and non-film media.

Founded in 1993, Greenlight Media took off with the launch of the wildly successful animated TV series ‘SimsalaGrimm’, which has since been distributed to over 125 territories worldwide, making it Germany’s number one exported TV series of all time. Greenlight Media co-ordinates all global theatrical sales activities, as well as all TV and video/DVD rights to the movie, in conjunction with BBC Worldwide.

About Audio Visual Enterprises S.A.
Audio Visual was established in Athens in 1982 as Distribution Company in Greece and Cyprus. Today it is a fully integrated Entertainment Group with business activities in four fields: distribution, cinema exhibition, production, amusement parks. Audio Visual is the exclusive DVD distributor for Greece of: Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures), Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow. In December 2005, Audio Visual acquired “Prooptiki S.A.” the leading theatrical distributor in Greece and 50% of its Balkans Subsidiaries. The combined leverage of the two companies creates a powerful alliance with a strategic commitment for further expansion in the Balkans Region. Prooptiki has the exclusive distribution rights of: Sony Pictures (for DVD & Theatrical Distribution), Buena Vista International (for Theatrical Distribution), BBC and Discovery Channel. Following the recent acquisition of Prooptiki S.A., Audio Visual is by far the leading motion picture distributor in the Greek market in DVD distribution, theatrical distribution and television broadcasting. Accordingly, strong growth rates and growing market share along all business units (Distribution, Exhibition, Production, Amusement Parks).