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Yari Film Group Releasing Crashes Due to Bankruptcy

by Alex Billington
December 14, 2008

Yet another independent film distributor has gone belly up, this time it's Yari Film Group Releasing, the distribution arm of Bob Yari's company. As of last Friday, the company was forced into involuntary bankruptcy due to a described "perfect storm" of debts and other issues. Yari Film Group's first big hit was The Illusionist in 2006; other films they've released include First Snow, The Hoax, The Painted Veil, Resurrecting the Champ, The Good Night, Kickin It Old Skool, and The Perfect Holiday. Yari was also in the midst of releasing two dramas this December - Nothing But the Truth and What Doesn't Kill You.

Bob Yari said that they were "left with no other option but to commence substantial layoffs and to suspend its releasing activities." While both Nothing But the Truth and What Doesn't Kill You will both be released as planned (on December 19th and December 12th, respectively), all other films will most likely be put on a temporary hold. Yari Film Group's production side will not be affected, although they are likely to make fewer movies now that the company is struggling financially. "Our goal is to aggressively work towards reorganizing our debt so that we can become a stronger company," Yari said in a statement.

At one point a few years ago I actually wrote an article about Yari Film Group, praising them for being a strong company with great releases. However, their first downward turn was with the throwaway comedy Kickin It Old Skool. Since then they've released nothing but bombs or have struggled to give potential hits the actual support they needed. I'll continue to say that the two reasons why companies like Yari Film Group and Picturehouse have collapsed are: first off, they decide to release so many terrible throwaway films, and second, because their staff is made up of people who really don't understand marketing or distribution.

Sadly, Yari had a few releases coming up that I was really looking forward to, specifically The Maiden Heist and Assassination of a High School President. We don't yet know what the status of either of these two are, but we'll be sure to keep everyone in the loop, as I won't let these films disappear.

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Reader Feedback - 5 Comments

maybe the government should bail em out

Scott McHenry on Dec 14, 2008

"First off, they decide to release so many terrible throwaway films, and second, because their staff is made up of people who really don't understand marketing or distribution." I'd say that's a "perfect storm" for total suckage/humiliation/bankruptcy. Bravo, YFG.

a horse on Dec 14, 2008

Hey Scott, nice one hehehe

Lucky on Dec 15, 2008

Haha, Scott. That was hilarious. But seriously, they never capitalized on THE ILLUSIONIST and made more prestigous films ala Miramax, but just threw money at any cheap throw-away project that came along. Really? Kickin' it Old Skool didn't deserve to go direct-to-DVD or even made at all? I think your comment is straight-on Alex on how they and Picturehouse make throwaway films. Then with good ones with big name cast members involved like THE HOAX (which was very good) and THE GOOD NIGHT, they don't advertise them at all and release them in only a few theatres. I am not very surprised. Take a page from FOX SEARCHLIGHT guys (and maybe their parent company should do the same).

Ryan on Dec 15, 2008

Present global economic downturn has led to filing of bankruptcy by several US industries including film distributors - both small and large. The bankruptcy filing by Yari Film Group Releasing is yet another example of this major financial failure. Bankruptcy attorneys in the greater Houston area know related legal rights and can assist in fighting for them.

bankruptcy attorney houston on Aug 25, 2009

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