Vancouver financier Frank Giustra and entertainment company Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) have announced the creation of a new joint venture: Sea to Sky Entertainment.
According to the partners, the new company will produce television programming for broadcast and cable networks.
Earlier this month Giustra, who founded Lionsgate and served as its chairman for six years, recently made a major investment in Vancouver-based Thunderbird Films, helping to bankroll the highly anticipated sequel to Blade Runner.
Lionsgate and Thunderbird will jointly manage Sea to Sky, which is hoping to generate “a broad range of scripted programming for mainstream commercial audiences, designed to have resonance with U.S. and Canadian viewers alike.”
According to a news release, Sea to Sky has several projects in the works, including a development and production deal with Academy Award-nominated reality producer and documentary filmmaker R.J. Cutler that Lionsgate announced two weeks ago.
The company will also develop a one-hour drama from Mystic River author Dennis Lehane.
“We are delighted to be reunited with our old friend and founder Frank Giustra,” said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer.
“Frank has had a tremendous impact in the financial community worldwide as well as in the realm of global philanthropy, and we believe that he can have a significant influence in helping the ongoing diversification of our television business as well.”
