Mike Fleming

LOS ANGELES (October xx, 2011) – ARC Entertainment and XLrator Media have acquired all North American rights to the urban thriller 96 MINUTES, which will be released theatrically early next year.

Starring Brittany Snow (Hairspray), Evan Ross (ATL), Christian Serratos (Twilight series), J. Michael Trautmann and David Oyelowo (The Help, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), 96 MINUTES is told in an interlocking structure centering around four young lives which collide in a shocking and terrifying moment with an acutely uncertain outcome. With acclaimed performances by a multicultural cast, this richly complex moral tale touches on the issues of race, class, friendship and our connections to the past.

Inspired by true events, 96 MINUTES was written and directed by Aimee Lagos and produced by Lee Clay, Justin Moore-Lewy, Charlie Mason and Paul Gilreath. The deal was negotiated by Barry Gordon of XLrator Media and Ben Weiss of Paradigm. Content Film has the international rights. Lagos is repped by Management 360 and WME.

The film premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival where Ross won the Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance. It has since gone on to win Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress (Snow) at the Boston Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best Feature at the New Hampshire International Film Festival, among others.

“96 MINUTES has riveted festival audiences wherever it has played, and we are thrilled to be able to expose it to people of all ages, races and socioeconomic classes, who will relate to its powerful themes,” said Gordon. “Aimee is a tremendously talented filmmaker with a unique voice.”

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Barry Gordon and the team at ARC and XLrator to release 96 MINUTES,’ said Lagos. “They have a unique and passionate understanding of this film and its audience. Their enthusiasm and commitment combined with a truly compelling marketing plan is something we’re all incredibly excited to be a part of.”

Recent ARC Entertainment/XLrator Media releases include Ironclad, John Carpenter’s The Ward, Bunraku and the upcoming rock ‘n roll comedy Killing Bono and Sundance documentary Knuckle. ARC Entertainment and Perfect Weekend are releasing The Greening of Whitney Brown on November 11.

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