TORONTO, Sept. 19 /CNW/ – Alliance Atlantis* Motion Picture Distribution LP, a leading distributor of motion pictures in Canada, today announced it has acquired all major Canadian rights to Bong Joon-ho’s The Host. The film had its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Midnight Madness programme. The distribution deal encompasses exclusive rights inclusive of theatrical, home video and pay, cable and free television.

"We are very excited to handle this wonderfully unique and critically acclaimed film. After stealing the show in Cannes and a monstrous opening in Korea we are thrilled to bring The Host to Canada," said Jim Sherry, Executive Managing Director. "This acquisition is a great opportunity to expand our growing partnership with Magnolia Pictures."

"We’re thrilled to be partnering again with Alliance Atlantis* Motion Picture Distribution LP on the Canadian release of The Host," said Eamonn Bowles, President Magnolia Pictures. "This is one of the most original genre films in recent memory and has one of the great movie monsters in film history."

The deal was negotiated by Jim Sherry and Amy Paquette on behalf of Alliance Atlantis* Motion Picture Distribution LP and by Eamonn Bowles and Jason Janego on behalf of Magnolia Pictures. The talk of the 2006 Cannes International Film Festival, The Host is the latest film from critically acclaimed visionary director Bong Joon-ho, and has already garnered a substantial amount of international buzz.

Utilizing state-of-the-art special effects, courtesy of a creative workshop between Weta Workshop (King Kong, Lord of the Rings), and The Orphanage (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) The Host is both a creature feature thrill ride and a poignant human drama. Delectably terrifying, The Host ensures that Seoul’s real-life city dwellers will never look at their city in the same way again. 

The Host was originally sold to Magnolia by Cineclick Asia, and produced by Chungeorahm Film and Showbox Mediaplex.