IARTHOUSE Launches First Online Service Devoted Exclusively To World Cinema

Offers unprecedented access to acclaimed international films with unique download-to-burn technology [The following is a release from iARTHOUSE]

August 13, 2008

iArthouse, the first online site dedicated specifically to world cinema officially launched today offering the public more than 800 films and innovative download-to-burn technology. By year’s end, the iArthouse library will include several thousand acclaimed international and arthouse films, many previously inaccessible to cinema aficionados and all hand-picked by film industry veterans. iArthouse is a new division of EZTakes, a leading movie download company.  A union of art and technology, the organization is led by EZTakes founders Jim Flynn and Bill Clarke, together with veteran cinema distribution and marketing executives John Lawrence Ré and Larry Jackson, both of whom have joined the EZTakes executive team. "We have the marketing savvy, taste and industry knowledge required to make iArthouse the best place to discover quality international films,” said John Lawrence Ré, filmmaker and founder of longtime arthouse theatrical distributor Northern Arts Entertainment.  “The marriage of film expertise and proven technology has created an organization that is best positioned to utilize the Internet as a distribution channel for high-quality international films." While film enthusiasts in major cities may have access to foreign and independent cinema, many living in suburban or rural areas rely solely on delivery services that take days to turnaround or rental locations with a minimal selection of world films. iArthouse provides an opportunity for everyone, regardless of location, to enjoy countless celebrated international films on demand. “We are thrilled to bring world cinema to the U.S. in a meaningful way, re-introducing major artistic and cultural milestones and spotlighting new discoveries,” said Larry Jackson, former executive vice president of Miramax Films and veteran arthouse exhibitor. "We have harnessed innovative technology to create a thoughtful, global community space for film lovers.” iArthouse is the first major player to succeed in bringing quality international cinema to the online arena through this comprehensive means. Ad-supported free streaming video, subscription and download-to-burn options enhance the iArthouse experience and allow consumers to access acclaimed foreign and independent films without a trip to the mailbox or video store.  For optimized viewing, users can burn titles to DVDs on home computers to watch on their televisions or in their home theaters. “Perhaps the greatest challenge facing the entertainment industry today is learning how to compete with free, illegal downloads,” said Jim Flynn, CEO of EZTakes. “By offering a high caliber of quality, legitimate content and enabling customers to burn their purchased downloads to playable DVDs, iArthouse is providing the kind of value and convenience that millions of people are willing to pay for, which we’ve already proven with the success of EZTakes.” iArthouse features hundreds of titles from leading independent and international film companies, including Kino International, Northern Arts Entertainment, Palm Pictures, First Look Entertainment, Arts Alliance America, Vanguard Cinema and KOCH Entertainment, among many others, ensuring the site a leading position in the online distribution sphere.   For more information and a full list of films, please visit www.iArthouse.com.

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