Hilary Swank headlines ‘BETTY ANNE WATERS’ Omega on board to finance & distribute

Los Angeles, September 29, 2008 – Two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry, P.S. I Love You) will play the title role in the feature film, based on a true story, to be directed by Tony Goldwyn (The Last Kiss, A Walk on the Moon). Part drama, part legal thriller, BETTY ANNE WATERS is a powerful and ultimately uplifting story about a working class single mother whose beloved brother is imprisoned for murder. As the only person who believes in his innocence, and having exhausted all appeals, Betty Anne realises the only chance of freeing him is to return to school and become an attorney herself. Dedicating most of her adult life to this end, eventually passing the Bar, she forges ahead with only blind faith that her brother never committed the crime - until she hears about the Innocence Project. This organization, founded by lawyers Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld, pioneered the use of DNA testing to free the wrongfully imprisoned. With their support and a tenacious battle against a corrupt and resistant legal system, finally, after 18 years in prison, Kenny Waters walks from a courtroom a free man, to be reunited with his family.

BETTY ANNE WATERS is produced by Andrew Sugerman (Premonition, Shopgirl, Johnson Family Vacation), Andrew S. Karsch (The Emperor’s Club, Town and Country, The Prince of Tides) and Tony Goldwyn, through Sugerman’s Pantheon Entertainment and Karsch’s Longfellow Pictures. Hilary Swank is serving as Executive Producer on the film. The script is by Pamela Gray (Music of the Heart, A Walk on the Moon). Omega Entertainment is financing and distributing worldwide. The film will shoot this Winter in Michigan.

Producer Andrew Sugerman said: “We have a movie that tells a story of the love, devotion and commitment that is possible between a brother and sister, one that transcends the boundaries of reasonableness and enters the realm of deep faith. This film is also an extremely important dramatization of a true-life event that is mirrored in a similar manner by so many innocent people, whose lives are being wasted by having been wrongly imprisoned. We know this movie will bring some hope and ultimately help save some of those lives.”

Producer Andrew Karsch said: "Betty Anne's story shows what one person's truly capable of accomplishing however impossible the odds or circumstances if propelled by passion, belief, commitment and determination. It's a totally unique and uplifting celebration of the human spirit. It also shows how easily an innocent man could have lost his life under only slightly different circumstances."

Director/Producer Tony Goldwyn said: “From the moment I heard Betty Anne’s incredible story on the evening news, it has been my consuming passion to make this film. In Hilary Swank, we have the perfect embodiment of this brilliant, funny, deeply passionate and wonderfully self-deprecating woman. Pamela Gray (whom I worked with on A Walk on the Moon) has written a brilliant screenplay. I am overjoyed that we now have the opportunity to bring the story to life.”

Hilary Swank is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and attorneys Jeff Bernstein and Karl Austen.

'LITTLE GREEN MEN' Cannes Announcement

Cannes, 15 May 2008 - Omega Entertainment has acquired international rights to 'Little Green Men' based on the best selling novel by Christopher Buckley (Thank You for Smoking). Omega’s Peter Rogers announced the deal following negotiations with the film’s producers, Edward R. Pressman and Glasshouse Pictures Brett Walsh. 'Little Green Men' is to be directed by Academy Award™ nominated whit Stillman and will feature a stellar ensemble cast.

In this satirical comedy, a top secret US government agency organizes phony alien abductions to promote belief in hostile alien life forms for its own self-serving ends.

Cast is lining up for Stillman's long-awaited return to directing. With 'Little Green Men', Stillman will have his first foray behind the camera since 'The Last Days of Disco', in 1998.

Discussions are underway with Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine, As Good As It Gets), Diane Kruger (National Treasure), Eva Mendes (Hitch), John Malkovich (Shadow Of The Vampire, ConAir), Peter Sarsgaard (Jarhead, Flightplan), Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent, Elf) and Zooey Deschanel (The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Almost Famous), Pressman previously Executive Produced the film adaptation of Buckley's 'Thank You For Smoking' and will also produce the film adaptation of Buckley’s 'God is My Broker'.

Omega Expands Sales Division with Appointment of Trevor Wright - Two Films to Make Their Market Debut

Zurich, 11 May 2008 – Omega Entertainment has appointed Trevor Wright as its President of North American Operations. Wright, a seasoned sales executive with over 20 years of experience in film development and sales, was most recently Vice President of Distribution at Myriad Pictures. He will be responsible for Omega’s international sales operation, and will head the company’s Los Angeles office. Peter Rogers, Omega’s President, will continue to oversee all sales, financing and production activities, but will henceforth focus primarily on film production. Films scheduled to start shooting in 2008 which he will directly oversee include GRIMM, a horror/thriller starring Bruce Willis and LUNA, an eco-adventure to be directed by Laurie Collyer. The appointment of Wright is part of an ongoing consolidation of the company’s core activities in Los Angeles.

Wright will be handling an eclectic slate at his first market for Omega, including two new titles for which the company has the international rights: the comedy LITTLE GREEN MEN, the much-anticipated adaptation of Christopher Buckley’s bestseller, which will mark Whit Stillman’s return to directing and HEARTLESS, a thriller headlined by ‘21’ star Jim Sturgess and Clémence Poésy (‘In Bruges’), to be directed by Phillip Ridley, which starts shooting June 8th. An all star cast is being assembled for LITTLE GREEN MEN, which Omega anticipates announcing during the Cannes Market, with the film due to start shooting this fall. As well as the afore-mentioned GRIMM and LUNA, Omega has a number of titles in development, including MANDRAKE, an adaptation of the Hearst comic book and PURPLE MOUNTAIN, an epic wartime drama about the Japanese occupation of Nanking. The comedy THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY LEFAY, starring Tim Allen, is currently in post-production and likely to debut in Toronto.

“We are delighted that Trevor has joined our sales team and taken on the responsibility for heading our LA operations,” said Omega founder Markus Barmettler. “His experience in the areas of sales and development will be invaluable as we pursue our ambitious production and sales plans.” “I am excited to be joining Markus, Peter and the rest of the Omega team at a time when many of the company’s long-nurtured projects are about to come to fruition,” added Wright.

Omega Entertainment takes on ‘THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY LEFAY’

Tim Allen Headlines Comedy Along with Andie MacDowell and Jenna Elfman;
Sales Begin at Upcoming AFM

Zurich, 25 October 2007 - Omega Entertainment is co-financing and handling international distribution on the Tim Allen comedy ‘The Six Wives of Henry Lefay’, it was announced today. The film, which will be introduced to buyers at the forthcoming AFM, is also financed by Ring Productions and Aramid, and produced by Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ David McIlvain (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) and Holly Wiersma (Factory Girl, Bobby). ‘The Six Wives of Henry Lefay’ was packaged by Cassian Elwes of the William Morris Agency, who is repping the film for US distribution.

‘The Six Wives of Henry Lefay’ has just wrapped its six week shoot in Connecticut. Written and directed by first time helmer Howard Michael Gould, the picture stars Tim Allen (Wild Hogs) as recently deceased Henry Lefay, whose life-long womanizing has left numerous ex- and current wives fighting over the funeral arrangements. His long-suffering daughter Barbara (24’s Elisha Cuthbert) is left to clear up the mess after his death, just as she did during his life. The wives are played by Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Paz Vega (Spanglish), Jenna Elfman (Dharma and Greg), Lindsay Sloane (The In-Laws) and S Epatha Merkerson (Law and Order). Eric Christian Olsen (License To Wed) plays Barbara’s boyfriend Lloyd and Chris Klein (American Pie) is her ex-love Stevie.

Omega Entertainment was formed in 2006 by Markus Barmettler and Enrique Steiger. Earlier this year Peter Rogers, former President of International Distribution at Lakeshore Entertainment, was appointed as its President. Barmettler was formerly MD of Epsilon Motion Pictures, which he founded in 1999 with the Kirch Group and Mediaset. Whilst at Epsilon he was responsible, together with Executive Vice President Solvej Malis, for the acquisition and sales of such titles as ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘The Constant Gardener’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’. Omega’s initial slate included Richard Gere starrer ‘The Flock’ and ‘If I Had Known I Was A Genius’, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sharon Stone. Omega’s current slate includes the epic drama ‘Purple Mountain’, directed by Simon West and written by Academy Award winner Jeffrey Caine, ‘Mandrake’, an action-adventure which Chuck Russell will direct, the eco-adventure ‘Luna’, to be directed by Deepa Mehta, and ‘Grimm’, a horror/thriller starring Bruce Willis. Omega Entertainment is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with offices in London and Los Angeles.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers lends his magic to Omega Entertainment & Baldwin Entertainment Group's MANDRAKE

Los Angeles, 29 October 2007 - Jonathan Rhys Meyers is to star as the eponymous hero of Omega Entertainment/Baldwin Entertainment Group’s ‘Mandrake’, which Chuck Russell (The Scorpion King, The Mask) will direct. An updated take on the classic Hearst comic book, the character of Mandrake is now an extreme escape artist, thrown into the high stakes world of international espionage. Golden Globe winner Rhys Meyers (Mission Impossible III, Matchpoint, Bend It Like Beckham) is currently on screen worldwide, starring as a smouldering young Henry VIII in Showtime’s ratings hit ‘The Tudors’.

‘Mandrake’ is the first picture from Omega Entertainment and Baldwin Entertainment Group’s (BEG) first look deal to go into production. Omega is financing and distributing worldwide, and producing together with BEG and Hyde Park Entertainment. The film is scheduled to shoot in early 2008 in China and the US.

“One of the most exciting things for me as a director is when I know I have a star who will make an indelible impression on a role, and become the catalyst for an entire film. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is exactly that for ‘Mandrake’, says Russell. “This is a rare opportunity to reinvent one of the all time classic comic book characters and create a new kind of hero for international audiences,” he adds. BEG’s Howard Baldwin says: “We are pleased to be in business with Omega and Hearst in bringing ‘Mandrake’ to the big screen. The unique blend of action and magic, a clever plot and rich characters, coupled with our amazing director and talented actor should provide all the right ingredients for a film that audiences of all ages will enjoy.”

Omega Entertainment was formed in 2006 by Markus Barmettler and Enrique Steiger. Earlier this year Peter Rogers, former President of International Distribution at Lakeshore Entertainment, was appointed as its President. Barmettler was formerly MD of Epsilon Motion Pictures, which he founded in 1999 with the Kirch Group and Mediaset. Whilst at Epsilon he was responsible, together with Executive Vice President Solvej Malis, for the acquisition and sales of such titles as ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘The Constant Gardener’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’. Omega’s current slate includes the epic drama ‘Purple Mountain’, directed by Simon West and written by Academy Award winner Jeffrey Caine, the comedy ‘The Six Wives of Henry Lefay’, starring Tim Allen, Elisha Cuthbert, Eric Christian Olsen and Andie MacDowell, which has just wrapped in production, and the eco-adventure ‘Luna’, to be directed by Deepa Mehta. Omega Entertainment is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with offices in London and Los Angeles.

Baldwin Entertainment Group credits include the Oscar winning ‘Ray’ starring Jamie Foxx, which garnered a Best Picture Oscar nomination; ‘Swimming Upstream’, with Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis; and the Matthew McConaughey / Penelope Cruz actioner ‘Sahara’. The company recently produced the Fox released "Death Sentence, "starring Kevin Bacon and directed by James Wan, co-creator of the multi-hundred-million-dollar ‘Saw’ films. Future projects for the Baldwins include a big-screen adaptation of the classic Ayn rand novel "Atlas Shrugged," (Lions Gate Films) to star Angelina Jolie and directed by Vadim Pearlman; a biopic about Jackie Robinson-Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey, and the integration of major league baseball, to star Robert Redford; "Luna", the story of Julia Butterfly Hill to be directed by Academy Award Nominated Deepha Mehta, ‘Teacher Man’, an adaptation of Frank McCourt's best-selling memoir, adapted by Academy Award winner Ron Bass; and a stage musical about the life of Ray Charles, written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks to be directed by Tony nominated Sheldon Epps.

Omega Entertainment ups the ante with Peter Rogers as president and multi-pic pact with Baldwin Entertainment Group

Zurich, 23 April 2007 - Omega Entertainment, the Swiss-based production, financing and sales entity, has appointed former Lakeshore International President Peter Rogers as its President. Rogers will head up the company's new London office and oversee all international operations. Omega founder Markus Barmettler has also announced a multi-picture financing agreement with Baldwin Entertainment Group, owned by producers Howard and Karen Baldwin. Rogers and Omega's Executive VP Solvej Malis will be debuting the Baldwin slate at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival. These events mark the latest stage in Omega's transition from financier of small to mid-sized pictures and pan-European rights trader into a global financing, production and sales outfit. In its new guise Omega aims to finance and distribute up to ten films per annum, with budgets ranging from $10M - $60M.

Omega's initial slate will include Baldwin Entertainment Group's ‘Mandrake’, an action adventure based on the classic Hearst comic, which Chuck Russell will direct, the eco drama ‘Luna’, to be directed by Deepa Mehta (‘Water’), ‘1.30 Train’, a love story with Joel Schumacher set to direct, and the romantic comedy ‘Indiscretion’, which Peter Cattaneo will direct.

On the appointment of Peter Rogers, Barmettler said: "I am thrilled to have Peter on board. With his extensive experience in distribution and production we will be able to build Omega into a premier international media company within a short period of time. Peter was my first choice and I appreciate his work ethic and ability to focus on the quality of the films". Rogers, who was President of Lakeshore International for seven years and oversaw the international distribution of such titles as "Million Dollar Baby" and the "Underworld" movies added: "This is a great opportunity; to be part of a new, exciting company that it is on the verge of becoming a real force in the worldwide film business. The success of a film company is determined by the movies it makes, and the strength of this first slate is a good indication of what is to come".

The agreement between Omega and BEG is a two year first look deal and was brokered by Arsenal's John Ptak. The Baldwins' producing credits include the Academy Award winner "Ray", "Sahara" and "Swimming Upstream".

Barmettler said: "When I met Howard and Karen we all saw a unique opportunity based on their vast and eclectic development slate to expand Omega into a European based independent powerhouse. It's a joy to be working with them". Howard and Karen Baldwin said "We are delighted to be in business with such a smart team as the group at Omega, and doubly pleased to partner with Markus for the financing of these projects,". "Our deal with Omega provides us with an extraordinary degree of flexibility, and we look forward to rewarding the partnership with some extraordinary films."

Omega Entertainment was formed in 2006 by Enrique Steiger, Markus Barmettler and Solvej Malis. Barmettler was formerly MD of Epsilon Motion Pictures, which he founded in 1999 with the Kirch Group and Mediaset. Whilst at Epsilon he was responsible for the acquisition and sales of such titles as ‘The Sixth Sense’, ‘The Constant Gardener’ and ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’. Omega's initial slate included Richard Gere starrer ‘The Flock’, ‘If I Had Known I Was A Genius’, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sharon Stone and ‘The Rape of Nanking’ directed by Simon West.

Producers Howard and Karen Baldwin formed Baldwin Entertainment Group in 2004. Their credits include the Oscar winning ‘Ray’ starring Jamie Foxx, which garnered a Best Picture Oscar nomination; ‘Swimming Upstream’, with Academy Award winner Russell Crowe; and the Matthew McConaughey / Penelope Cruz action hit "Sahara". The company is in post-production on "Death Sentence," starring Kevin Bacon and directed by James Wan, co-creator of the multi-hundred-million-dollar "Saw" films. The project is based on a novel by Brian Garfield, the creator of the ‘Death Wish’ franchise. Future projects for the Baldwin's include a biopic about Jackie Robinson-Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey, and the integration of major league baseball, to star Robert Redford as Rickey; a big-screen adaptation of the classic Ayn rand novel "Atlas Shrugged," (Lions Gate Films) to star Angelina Jolie; and ‘Teacher Man’, and adaptation of Frank McCourt's best-selling memoir, to be adapted by Academy Award winner Ron Bass; and a stage musical about the life of ray Charles, written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks.