Phase 4 Films has acquired home entertainment specialist ESI Distribution and struck a distribution deal with The Criterion Collection.

This announcement follows Phase 4’s December notice of a signed distribution agreement with Shout! Factory and grows the former’s library to thousands of titles.

“Criterion and Shout! enhance our ability to offer consumers a broad selection of high quality content, while ESI brings a perfect blend of content and vendor relationships, particularly with Costco in the US,” said Phase 4 president and CEO Berry Meyerowitz.

“We needed a partner that could maximise our opportunities in Canada while simultaneously servicing some of our key US accounts,” said Jonathan Turell, CEO of The Criterion Collection. “Our alliance with Phase 4 is an important next step that brings The Criterion Collection’s library of classic and contemporary films into even more households in North America.”

“Phase 4 lives the credo of being a true service-oriented company,” said ESI co-owners Kirk Andreasen and Brien Culver. “They are the perfect transition partner to continue the legacy of providing great service to all third-party suppliers.”

Phase 4 Films is releasing The Criterion Collection’s Oscar nominee and Golden Globe-winning Italian feature The Great Beauty (pictured) on VOD on February 25. 

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