September 15th, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY [August 20, 2014] –Tribeca Film today announced it has acquired North American rights to Hyena out of the 2014Toronto International Film Festival which also opened this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival . The authentic, extensively researched, cop thriller is written and directed byGerard Johnson (Tony), and stars Peter Ferdinando (Starred Up, High Rise), Stephen Graham (“Boardwalk Empire”), Neil Maskell (Kill List), and Richard Dormer (“Game of Thrones”). A theatrical release is planned for 2015.

In Hyena, Michael Logan (Peter Ferdinando) is an anti-hero for our times: a natural predator and a complex mix of high-functioning addict and corrupt police officer. But his dark world is evolving. A recent influx of ruthless Albanian gangsters is threatening to change London’s criminal landscape. Michael’s razor sharp instincts have always kept him one step ahead, but now his increasingly self-destructive behavior and the sheer brutality of the new gang lords find Michael in a spiraling descent of fear and self-doubt.

“Hyena is a raw, unflinching and explosive portrait of the contemporary London underworld,” said Geoff Gilmore, Tribeca Film. “At the cutting edge of the cinematic universe inhabited by Abel Ferrara and Nicolas Winding Refn, director Gerard Johnson has stylishly crafted a world of brutality and amoral battles between cops and thugs from which there is no easy escape or refuge and that you won’t want to miss. “

"The guys at Tribeca are very passionate about Hyena. It really helps that there is strong film heritage associated with their name. I look forward to working with them," said Gerard Johnson.

The deal was negotiated for Tribeca Film by Nick Savva, and Abigail Walsh of Independent Film Sales on behalf of the filmmakers. Hyena is presented by Film4 and the BFI, a Number 9 Films Production in association with Riggins Productions Limited and Lipsync. The film was produced by Stephen Woolley, Joanna Laurie, and Elizabeth Karlsen.

Hyena is a recipient of the BFI’s US Distribution Fund, a pilot scheme assisting UK films premiering at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival to attract theatrical distribution and reach wider audiences in the US.

PHOTO: A film still can be accessed at the following link: http://tribecafilm.com/press-center/tribeca-film/hyena-still

About Tribeca Film

Tribeca Film is a comprehensive distribution label dedicated to acquiring and releasing independent films across multiple platforms, including theatrical, video-on-demand, digital, home video and television. It is an initiative from Tribeca Enterprises designed to provide new platforms for how film can be experienced, while supporting filmmakers and introducing audiences to films they might not otherwise see. Current and upcoming Tribeca Film releases include Gia Coppola’s Palo Alto, David MacKenzie’s Starred Up and Nas: Time Is Illmatic.

About Independent
Independent specializes in the development, financing, production and distribution of independent feature films.

Independent’s newest production is The Falling, by upcoming British filmmaker Carol Morley. In 2011, Independent produced the critically acclaimed adaptation of Lionel Shriver's novel We Need To Talk About Kevin, directed by Lynne Ramsay, and world premiered it in competition in Cannes.

Other films Independent has recently represented include David Mackenzie’s Starred Up, released by Fox Searchlight in the UK, What We Did On Our Holiday which will be released end of September via Lionsgate, and Sean Ellis’ Sundance Audience Award winner and Bafta nominee Metro Manila. See: http://www.independentfilmcompany.com
For further information please contact:Sarah Lebutsch at Independent:
Sarahl@independentfilmcompany.com / +44 (0) 20 7257 8734 / m: +44 7917 843 547

About Number 9 Films
Number 9 Films was created in 2003 by award-winning producing partners Elizabeth Karlsen (Little Voice, Ladies in Lavender) and Stephen Woolley (The Crying Game, Mona Lisa, Scandal, Interview with the Vampire) after a long collaboration at both Palace and Scala Productions.  The company has established itself as one of the UK’s leading independent production companies forging relationships with a wide range of talent in the UK, across Europe and in the States.

Films produced under the Number 9 banner include Made in Dagenham (Nigel Cole) which is being made into a West End musical, Byzantium (Neil Jordan), Great Expectations (Mike Newell), How To Lose Friends & Alienate People (Robert Weide), Sounds Like Teen Spirit (Jamie J Johnson), Breakfast on Pluto (Neil Jordan), Mrs Harris (Phyllis Nagy), Stoned (Stephen Woolley) and And When Did You Last See Your Father (Anand Tucker).

Number 9 Films’ most recent productions are Hyena, written and directed by Gerard Johnson, starring Peter Ferdinando, produced with long term Number 9 Films associate Joanna Laurie, which opened the Edinburgh International Film Festival; Carol, written by Phyllis Nagy, directed by Todd Haynes and starring Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara; and Academy Award® winner Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth, starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Jane Fonda and Rachel Weisz.

Next year will see the production of The Limehouse Golem, written by Jane Goldman and directed by Juan Carlos Medina, as well as Their Finest Hour and a Half, written by Gaby Chiappe and directed by Lone Scherfig.

About Film 4
Film4 is Channel 4 Television’s feature film division. Film4 develops and co-finances films and is known for working with the most innovative talent in the UK, whether new or established.

Film4 has developed and co-financed many of the most successful UK films of recent years, Academy Award-winners such as Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges and Phyllida Lloyd’s The Iron Lady; critically-acclaimed award-winners such as Mike Leigh’s Another Year, Chris Morris’ Four Lions, Shane Meadows’ This is England, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers and Clio Barnard’s The Selfish Giant; and the most successful British comedy at the UK box office, Ben Palmer’s The Inbetweeners Movie.

Film4’s recently released slate includes Damon Beesley and Iain Morris’s The Inbetweeners 2, Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, Richard Ayoade’s The Double, David Mackenzie’s Starred Up, Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall andLenny Abrahamson’s Frank. Forthcoming releases include Lone Sherfig’s The Riot Club, Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days on Earth, Kevin Macdonald’s Black Sea, Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette, Todd Haynes’ Carol, Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, Debbie Tucker Green’s Second Coming, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner, Alex Garland’s Ex Machina, Yann Demange’s ’71 and Anton Corbijn’s A Most Wanted Man. For further information visit www.film4.com/productions

About the BFI FILM FUND
With over £26m to invest a year, the BFI Film Fund is the UK's largest public investor in film - supporting first-class film-making through development and production, to distribution and international sales. 

Recent releases backed by the BFI Film Fund include Jonathan Glazer’s Under the Skin, Ralph Fiennes’ The Invisible Woman, Amma Asante’s Belle, Ken Loach’s Jimmy’s Hall,  Joanna Hogg’s Exhibition,  Stephen Frears’ Philomena, Lenny Abrahamson’s Frank, Dexter Fletcher’s Sunshine on Leith, Ruairi Robinson’s The Last Days On Mars, Richard Ayoade’s The Double and John Michael McDonagh’s Calvary.

New films that the BFI Film Fund has backed include Mike Leigh’s J.M.W Turner Mr. Turner; Matthew Warchus’s Pride; John Boorman’s Queen & Country;  Yann Demange’s ‘71, Lone Scherfig’s The Riot Club; Duane Hopkins’ Bypass;  Daniel Wolfe’s feature debut, Catch Me Daddy; Debbie Tucker-Green’s Second Coming; John Crowley’s Brooklyn; Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years; Louise Osmond’s Dark Horse; Peter Strickland’s The Duke Of Burgundy; Rufus Norris’ London Road; Sarah Gavron’s Suffragette; James Kent’s Testament of Youth, Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Lobster; Randall Wright’s Hockney;  Guy Myhill’s The Goob;  Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s 20,000 Days on Earth; Gerard Johnson’s Hyena; John Maclean’s Slow West; Terence Davies’ Sunset Song; Richard Bracewell’s Bill; Carol Morley’s The Falling; Destiny Ekaragha’s Gone Too Far!; Brian Hill’s Thomas Quick; Beeban Kidron’s InRealLife; Jon Wright’s Robot Overlords; Morgan Matthews’ X+Y; and André Singer’s Night Will Fall.

BFI
The BFI is the lead organisation for film in the UK with the ambition to create a flourishing film environment in which innovation, opportunity and creativity can thrive by:

1. Connecting audiences to the widest choice of British and World cinema
2. Preserving and restoring the most significant film collection in the world for
3. today and future generations
4. Investing in creative, distinctive and entertaining work
5. Promoting British film and talent to the world
6. Growing the next generation of film makers and audiences

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PRESS CONTACTS:

Tribeca Film:
Tammie Rosen – Tribeca Enterprises, 212.941.2003, trosen@tribecaenterprises.com
Tahra Grant – Rubenstein Communications, 212.843.9213, tgrant@rubenstein.com