 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion pictures |
| Predecessor | Next Wave Films Agenda 2000 |
| Founded | September 26, 2000; 24 years ago (2000-09-26) |
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Jonathan Sehring, President (2007)[1] |
| Parent | AMC Networks |
| Divisions | IFC Productions IFC First Take IFC Midnight Sundance Selects Shudder |
| Website | ifcfilms |
IFC Films LLC[2] is an American film production and distribution company based inNew York. It is an offshoot ofIFC owned byAMC Networks. It mainly distributesindependent features under its own name, selectforeign films and documentaries under itsSundance Selects label, and co-distributes genre films withShudder. It operates theIFC Center.
The IFC Films division has a predecessor film label, Next Wave Films, designed to release movies, which was in operation from 1997 to 2002, when it was shut down and folded into IFC themselves.[3][4] IFC also launched a film company, IFC Productions, which set up operation in March 1997 to produce their own feature film projects.[5] On January 18, 1999, IFC launched a film label Agenda 2000, which set up their own film projects, which have their world premiere on IFC.[6]
On September 26, 2000, IFC launched its own feature film unit, branded IFC Films, to be headed by Bob Berney, who went on to have jobs atNewmarket Films, and later founder ofPicturehouse.[7]
IFC has several ventures invideo on demand (VOD), available through cable televisionpay-per-view, AppleiTunes, and formerlyBlockbuster'sMovielink.[1] In 2002, IFC Films struck a deal withMGM Home Entertainment to release its theatrical films to home video, until they along with IFC's original TV shows moved toGenius Products in 2006 as part of a deal signed by Rainbow Media.[8]
In 2006, IFC launchedIFC First Take, combining a limited theatrical release withvideo on demand being available the same day. The films included would be shown at IFC ownedIFC Center, as well as other theaters;Landmark Theatres were the first outside theaters announced.[9] That same year, In 2006, IFC Films began distributing some films to AppleiTunes. The first batch were thirteen films with nominations in theFilm Independent Spirit Awards.[10] In a March 2008 panel discussion, IFC Film's Arianna Bocco stated that all its films would be released through First Take.[11][unreliable source?] That same year, IFC launchedIFC Festival Direct, a platform forvideo on demand distribution, for films without a slated theatrical release in the United States.[12] in 2010, it was announced that IFC Films would be launching a division titledIFC Midnight, the division would focus on releasinghorror,sci-fi,thrillers, erotic arthouse, and action.[13]
In 2009, IFC signed home video deals withMPI Media Group and theCriterion Collection.[14][15]
In February 2015,Shout! Factory'sScream Factory made a deal with IFC Films to release their titles on their IFC Midnight label. This included the Blu-ray and DVD releases ofThe Babadook andBackcountry, among others.[16]
On May 27, 2015, IFC Films struck another home video distribution deal withParamount Home Media Distribution.[17]
On July 30, 2018,AMC Networks reached a definitive agreement to acquireRLJ Entertainment where AMC would pay $59 million for the remaining RLJE shares not owned by AMC or Robert L. Johnson.[18] The transaction was approved by RLJ Entertainment's stockholders on October 31, and AMC Networks completed the acquisition on November 1.[19] RLJ Entertainment became a privately owned subsidiary of AMC Networks, with Johnson and his affiliates owning a 17% stake. RLJ Entertainment, as IFC Films' sister company, took over home video distribution of their titles in December 2021.