Bob Yari's Yari Film Group has dropped Alliance Films as its Canadian partner in favour of fast-rising Canadian entertainment group Entertainment One (E1).

YFG and E1 have signed an exclusive all-rights deal that will see YFG's films released through E1's Seville Pictures subsidiary through 2010.

The pact, which begins with the August-scheduled release of Assassination Of A High School President, will increase Seville's Canadian distribution slate by an expected ten titles annually through its duration. Alliance has YFG's Accidental Husband remaining on its 2008 slate.

The new deal was negotiated by E1's Filmed Entertainment president Patrice Theroux, Seville Picture's president David Reckziegel, and YFG chief creative officer David Glasser.

In a statement, Glasser pointed to E1's quick rise to a dominant position in the Canadian market as a rationale for moving the output deal, formerly held with Alliance Atlantis's Motion Picture Distribution now Alliance Films. YFG signed a three-year pact with Aurum, Alliance's Spanish distribution business, in November 2006.

E1's Theroux told Screen International the deal includes upcoming YFG titles such as Joe Carnahan's Killing Pablo, starring Christian Bale, Peter Hewitt's The Lonely Maiden, starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, William H. Macy and Marcia Gay Harden; and Rod Lurie's Nothing But The Truth, featuring Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett and Alan Alda. Assassination Of A High School President stars Mischa Barton, Reece Thompson and Bruce Willis.

YFG's past films include The Illusionist, Crash and The Hoax.

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