October Films
Former independent film production company / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the defunct American independent film production company. It is not to be confused with the currently-trading London and New York-based television production company October Films Limited and its subsidiary, October Films Inc..
October Films was a major U.S. independent film production company[1] and distributor founded in 1991 by Bingham Ray and Jeff Lipsky as a means of distributing the 1990 film Life Is Sweet.
Quick Facts Industry, Founded ...
Industry | Independent film |
---|---|
Founded | 1991; 33 years ago (1991) |
Founder | Bingham Ray Jeff Lipsky |
Defunct | 1999; 25 years ago (1999) |
Fate | Sold to USA Networks and merged with Gramercy Pictures, Interscope Communications and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment |
Successor | USA Films (1999-2002) Focus Features (2002-present) |
Owner | Seagram (1997-1999) |
Parent | Universal Pictures (1997-1999) |
Subsidiaries | Rogue Pictures |
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A series of mergers and acquisitions began when Universal Pictures (then a division of the Seagram Company) bought a majority stake in October Films in 1997.[2] Universal then sold its shares to Barry Diller in 1999, who renamed the company USA Films and merged it with Interscope Communications and Gramercy Pictures.[3] Vivendi then acquired USA Films, who in 2002 acquired Good Machine and merged it with USA Films, forming Focus Features.