The Weinstein Company's SIIB Division Closes $225M in New Financing
TWC's Strategic Initiatives, Investments and Banking (SIIB) division has closed $225 million in new financings between two revolving multi-bank facilities. A $150 million domestic-focused revolving facility was closed. An additional $75 million revolving new media facility was structured and agented by UBS Investment Bank. OneWest Bank will serve as Collateral Administrator for this UBS Facility. The two will play what TWC calls, "an instrumental role in continuing TWC’s transformation as a mini-major film studio now largely supported by institutional financing."
Indianapolis International Film Festival Sets 110 Films
The 9th annual event includes titles ranging from selections featured at Sundance, Tribeca and Cannes film festivals to newly discovered regional filmmaking. Films will compete for Best Of in their respective categories, as well as Audience Awards and a Grand Jury Award for best film of the fest, which carries a $1,000 prize purse. The festival, taking place July 19 - 29 will close with Somebody Up There Likes Me by Robert Byington. For more information, visit their website.
Around the 'net…
Barbra Streisand to Direct First Film in 16 Years
She's agreed to direct Skinny and Cat, a love story about writer Erskine Caldwell and photojournalist Margaret Bourke White, starring Colin Firth and Cate Blanchett. The film will be independently financed and set for January 2013, Showbiz 411 reports.
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus Finds Director
Vet commercial director Bryan Buckley will make his feature debut with Lionsgate/Summit on the project starring Reese Witherspoon. The film is based on the John Gray self-help best seller. The shoot is planned for January, Deadline reports.
Tom Papa Joins Steven Soderbergh's HBO Liberace Pic
Papa will play the late performer's long time friend, Ray Arnett. Michael Douglas will play Liberace, who died in 1987. Shooting will begin in L.A. next month, Deadline reports.
West Memphis Three Movie Adds Bruce Greenwood and Michael Gladis
They will join Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth in the film that will be directed by Atom Egoyan. The project spotlights the true story of three teens wrongly convicted of murdering three boys in 1993, THR reports.