Uptown Picked Up for Distribution

We are proud to announce that Brian Ackley's debut feature film Uptown has been picked up for distribution! Still in middle of it's festival run, LA-based company Celebrity Video Distribution has acquired all of the North American rights to the film.

Uptown, based on a true story, is about a man who falls in love with a married woman. Single Manhattan resident Ben (Chris Riquinha) finds his romantic tendencies driving him in the direction of a relationship, even though he likes all the advantages of remaining unattached. But just how likely is it that he and Isabel (Meissa Hampton), an unhappily married woman, will wind up together even though they experience a near-magnetic draw to each other?

Uptown has its East Coast premiere in NYC tomorrow, June 2nd at 8 pm at the Anthology Film Archives (NewFilmmakers Series), followed by a premiere/DVD release party. Uptown continues to garner an incredible reception - beginning with its West Coast premiere in Seattle last fall at the Blue November Film Festival, then winning LSU Cinema Club's Best Leading Actress award for Meissa Hampton, and continues to receive great reviews and critical acclaim, including being named one of 2009 favorite films and performances for the leads Meissa Hampton and Chris Riquinha, by writer Brian Skutle of Sonic Cinema, as well as winning the Honorable Mention Award at Twin Rivers Media Festival in North Carolina.

C.V.D. will be releasing the film on July 20th; it will be available at that time at Best Buy, Blockbusters, Netflix, Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, and several other internet and retail outlets. The film will be released via a multi-platform strategy that will include DVD, VOD, digital downloads, libraries, and possible cable television, through C.V.D.’s existing output with companies that also include RedBox, Midwest Tape, TNT, Bigstar TV, INGRAM, Starcrest, Cinema Now, Baker Taylor, Critics Choice, VPD, DVD Empire, DVD Play, Quality Books, WAXWORKS, Family Entertainment, GRAVITAS, Video Warehouse, and many others.

The Special Features DVD will include 3 commentary tracks: Director/Producer commentary, Lead Actor commentary (Chris Riquinha & Meissa Hampton), and a delightful critical commentary track by FilmIntution.com writer Jen Johans. There will also be documentary featurettes directed by Melissa Mathes and Celia Peters, documenting the making of the film. Also included will be Brian Ackley's short film Hostage Person.

We are delighted to announce this to our loyal readers, and we thank everyone who worked on this film or its special features, everyone who supported it, everyone who reviewed it, and every festival that screens it.

Those in the NYC area, this may be the last time the film is screened theatrically in New York so make sure to drop by the Anthology Film Archives Weds night (June 2nd) at 8 pm!

Hear news first at our Fan Page.

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Read reviews on the film’s Official Website.