New York-based Fortress Investment Group has bought Curzon, a leading U.K. arthouse exhibitor and distributor, the two companies announced Tuesday.
The deal gives Fortress control over Curzon’s 16 theaters, representing 46 screens, across the U.K., its distribution arm Curzon Film and its Curzon Home Cinema streaming platform. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed. Allison Swayze, managing director at Fortress, said the company will support Curzon’s near-term plans in “expanding its cinema footprint, and delivering awards and release plans for an exciting slate of films. Our acquisition secures the jobs of more than 350 employees, and helps Curzon continue to offer film fans a range of independent and blockbuster movies both in cinema and at home.”
This is the second time in under five years that Curzon has changed hands, following Cohen Media Group’s acquisition of the company in 2019.
Fortress, which manages some $48 billion in assets, has been on a U.K. spending spree of late. In April, the company acquired U.K. discount retailer Poundstretcher to add to their British businesses Majestic Wine and Punch Pubs.
Curzon is one of the oldest British cinema companies. Dating back to 1934, it’s credited with helping bring international cinema to the island, screening some of the first foreign language films in the U.K. Their distribution arm, Artificial Eye, which became part of Curzon Group in 2006, has released such features as Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever at the U.K. box office, and, more recently, Maryam Moghadam and Behtash Sanaeeha’s Iranian drama My Favourite Cake, which grossed upwards of $250,000 in the U.K., and Rich Peppiatt’s Irish-language feature Kneecap, which has earned more than $2.5 million at the British and Irish box office.
Upcoming Curzon releases include Latvia’s Oscar entry Flow and Leonardo Van Dijl’s Julie Keeps Quiet, Belgium’s Academy Award submission.
In 2010, Curzon launched its own streaming service, which now serves some 6.5 million households.
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