Lionsgate Enters Output Deal With Russia's West Company

Lionsgate has formalized its relationship with independent distributor West Company via an output deal for all Lionsgate titles in Russia and other CIS countries. West Company just released The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ' Part 2 to a franchise-best of $22M in Russia and the CIS on opening weekend. The film also scored the best non-holiday opening day in the territory's history and the second biggest overall opening of all time. Lionsgate co-chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger said, 'We're delighted to expand and extend Lionsgate's longstanding relationship with West Company in what has become one of our top territories.' The West Company deal adds to agreements Lionsgate has been busy securing in order to create an international distribution network. Other offshore partners include Metropolitan Filmexport in France, StudioCanal in Germany, Nordisk Films in Scandinavia, Aurum Producciones in Spain and Roadshow Pictures in Australia. The Lionsgate-West Company deal does not alter Summit's output arrangement with Central Partnership in the CIS.

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