Annapurna Pictures

Annapurna Pictures was founded in 2011 by Megan Ellison as a production and finance entity focusing on high-end auteur-driven cinema.{{Cite web|last=Kaufman|first= Anthony|date=2011-10-24|title=Annapurna's Ellison a patron of the auteur|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/annapurna-s-ellison-a-patron-of-the-auteur-1118044369/|access-date= 2020-10-21| website=Variety|language=en}} Ellison had attended University of Southern California’s film school for two semesters and then left in 2005 and traveled the world. Among her stops was Nepal, where she trekked on the Himalayan mountain Annapurna, for which her production company is named.{{Cite web|last= Fritz |first=Ben |date=2012-05-18| title= Megan Ellison is energizing indie film world|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-may-18-la-fi-ct-megan-ellison-20120519-story.html|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}

By 2014 Annapurna had produced and/or financed the films Lawless, The Master, Killing Them Softly, Zero Dark Thirty, Spring Breakers, The Grandmaster, Her, Foxcatcher, and American Hustle, and was starting production on Joy, Sausage Party, Wiener-Dog, 20th Century Women, and Everybody Wants Some!!.

In December 2016, the company announced its new division, Annapurna Interactive, to produce, develop, and distribute video games. Annapurna Interactive has become a major publisher of independently made games.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/annapurna-pictures-launches-interactive-video-game-division/|title=Annapurna Pictures Launches Interactive Video Game Division|website= The Wrap|first=Beatrice|last=Verhoeven|date=December 1, 2016|access-date= December 1, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/production/annapurna-interactive-launches-to-produce-publish-video-games/5111849.article?blocktitle=LATEST-FILM-NEWS-HEADLINES&contentID=44435|title= Annapurna Interactive launches to produce, publish video games| website=Screen International| first=Jeremy|last=Kay|date= December 1, 2016|access-date= December 1, 2016}}

In January 2017, the company announced they would begin distributing films, with their first being Detroit directed by Kathryn Bigelow, set for release on August 4, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/annapurna-pictures-distribution-marketing-team-indie-studio-1201890783/| title=Annapurna Pictures, Part II: Distribution And Marketing Team In Place As Company Flexes Indie Studio Muscle|website=Deadline Hollywood| first=Anita|last=Busch|date= January 20, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2017}} They later signed a multi-year distribution deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) on March 27, in which MGM will distribute all of Annapurna's films in select international territories.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/megan-ellison-annapurna-partners-mgm-internationa-1202017126/|title=Megan Ellison's Annapurna Partners With MGM for International Releases|last=McNary|first= Dave|date=2017-03-27|work=Variety|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mgm-annapurna-pictures-ink-movie-distribution-deal-988964| title=MGM, Annapurna Pictures Ink Movie Distribution Deal| work= The Hollywood Reporter| access-date=2017-06-18|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/03/mgm-annapurna-pictures-movie-distribution-partnership-kathryn-bigelow-megan-ellison-untitled-detroit-project-1202052928/|title=MGM & Annapurna Seal Multi-Year Movie Distribution Deal|last=Lodderhose|first=Diana|date= 2017-03-27|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en-US}} On April 6, the company also announced an exclusive, multi-year output licensing agreement with Hulu.{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/hulu-annapurna-pictures-movie-output-deal-1202024899/|title=Hulu Inks Annapurna Pictures Pay-One TV Window Movie Output Deal|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2017-04-06|work=Variety |access-date= 2017-06-18|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hulu-lands-expansive-output-deal-annapurna-pictures-991694|title=Hulu Lands Expansive Output Deal With Annapurna Pictures|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/annapurna-pictures-hulu-streaming-rights-multi-year-deal-1202063637/|title=Annapurna Pictures Pacts With Hulu For Streaming Rights In Big, Multi-Year Deal|last=Busch|first=Anita|date= 2017-04-06|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=2017-06-18|language=en-US}}

In May 2017, Plan B Entertainment and Annapurna announced a three-year production deal to partner on at least three films a year, with Annapurna handling distribution and marketing. As part of the deal, Annapurna received the rights to Adam McKay's film Vice starring Christian Bale as Dick Cheney.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/brad-pitts-plan-b-inks-three-year-deal-annapurna-998994/|title=Brad Pitt's Plan B Inks Three-Year Deal With Annapurna |work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rebecca|last=Ford|date=May 4, 2017|access-date=May 21, 2017}} It was also announced Annapurna would co-distribute Brad's Status through their MGM joint venture Mirror alongside Amazon Studios.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/brads-status-mike-white-ben-stiller-release-date-annapurna-amazon-sidney-kimmel-1202097499/|title=Amazon, Annapurna Partner To Release Mike White's 'Brad's Status' Into Theaters — Cannes|website= Deadline Hollywood |first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|date=May 18, 2017|access-date=May 18, 2017}} In July, the company signed a multi-year U.S. home entertainment pact with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment to oversee its home releases.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/annapurna-fox-home-entertainment-1202492104/|title=Annapurna, 20th Century Fox Sign Multi-Year Home Entertainment Pact|first1= Brent|last1=Lang|date=Jul 11, 2017|access-date=Aug 12, 2019}}

Since Sony Pictures' contract to co-produce the James Bond series with MGM and Eon Productions expired with the release of Spectre, Annapurna, along with five major studios – Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures and Sony itself – vied to win the rights to the next film as of April 2017. It was then announced that MGM had secured the domestic, digital and worldwide television rights to the film. Universal was announced as the international distributor of the film and holder of the rights for physical home entertainment distribution.{{cite news|url=https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/business/media/james-bond-sony-mgm-eon-productions.html|title=Five Studios' Mission: Winning the Distribution Rights to James Bond|author=Brooks Barnes|newspaper= The New York Times|date=April 20, 2017|access-date=April 21, 2017}}

In October 2017, Annapurna and MGM announced the formation of a US distribution joint venture in which each studio would release their films individually. This marked a return to domestic theatrical distribution for MGM and an expansion of Annapurna's distribution division, with MGM releasing approximately six to eight films per year on a limited basis and Annapurna releasing four to six films per year, in a combined slate of fourteen films. While the two companies are sharing costs for the joint venture's operations, Annapurna's distribution and marketing teams supported the MGM titles, which were distributed under the MGM banner while Annapurna-produced films continued to be distributed under its own banner. The two studios also launched Mirror, a releasing entity that pursues theatrical opportunities for additional third-party films. However, this partnership is not exclusive to all MGM films, as several of them continued to be released through existing studio partners, such as Warner Bros. and Paramount. The newly relaunched Orion Pictures and future worldwide distributor plans for the James Bond franchise, are also not included, which MGM announced on "a later date", May 24, 2018, to have been won by Universal Pictures.{{cite news| url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q3%202017%20Financial%20Report.pdf| title=Q3 2017 Financial Report| publisher= | website= MGM.com| access-date=February 15, 2018| archive-date=March 25, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325121442/http://s3.amazonaws.com/mgm-assets/assets/pdfs/investor-relations/Q3%202017%20Financial%20Report.pdf| url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/|title=News from California, the nation and world|website= Los Angeles Times|access-date= August 12, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/box-office/mgm-annapurna-u-s-distribution-partnership-1202603105/|title=MGM, Annapurna Form U.S. Distribution Partnership |first1=Dave| last1= McNary| date= October 31, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/mgm-teams-annapurna-joint-distribution-deal/|title=MGM Teams With Annapurna for Joint Distribution Deal|first=Thom|last=Geier|date=Oct 31, 2017|access-date=Aug 12, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/bond-25-universal-will-distribute-daniel-craig-film-internationally-1114810|title=Universal Wins James Bond International Distribution|website= The Hollywood Reporter|date=24 May 2018|access-date=August 12, 2019}}

In October 2018, Annapurna signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music, which administered the studio's film and TV compositions and scores.{{cite web |title=Annapurna Pictures Announces Global Publishing Deal with Warner/Chappell Music - Warner Music Group Official Blog |url=https://www.wmg.com/news/annapurna-pictures-announces-global-publishing-deal-warnerchappell-music-33821 |website= wmg.com| publisher= Warner Music Group |date=8 October 2018 |access-date=6 February 2019 |language=en}}

In February 2019, Annapurna and MGM rebranded and expanded their US distribution joint venture to release both MGM and Annapurna films under United Artists Releasing, with the distribution teams of Annapurna and Orion Pictures (whose films are added as well) joining the venture and former Screen Gems executive Pam Kunath joining as COO in addition to the heads of MGM and Annapurna joining the board of directors. The decision was made to coincide with the United Artists brand's 100th anniversary, and has plans to release 10–14 films a year through the new label, including the domestic release of No Time to Die (which marks a reunion between the UA brand and the James Bond franchise after two decades).{{cite web |last1=Ellison |first1=Megan |title=MGM, Annapurna Team for Distribution Label United Artists Releasing |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mgm-annapurna-team-distribution-label-united-artists-releasing-1182888 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=5 February 2019 |access-date=6 February 2019 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/annapurna-mgm-united-artists-releasing-1203128801/|title=Annapurna, MGM Joint Distribution Venture Rebrands as United Artists Releasing|first1=Matt|last1=Donnelly|date= February 5, 2019|access-date=August 12, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/mgm-annapurna-joint-venture-united-artists-releasing-banner-1202550085/|title=MGM, Annapurna Set Joint Venture To Theatrically Distribute Under United Artists Releasing Banner|first1= Mike Jr.|last1=Fleming|date=February 5, 2019| access-date=August 12, 2019}} After taking financial losses from distributing Vice, Detroit, and Destroyer, Annapurna had to leave Bombshell just two weeks before it would start production, and also unattached itself from Hustlers.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/megan-ellison-second-coming-nimona-1235842667/|title=The Second Coming of Megan Ellison| first1=Mia | last1= Galuppo| first2= Rebecca| last2= Keegan |date=March 6, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}

In December 2022, Annapurna launched its animation division led by former Blue Sky Studios Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein. Nimona was its first release.{{cite web |last1=Vlessing |first1=Etan |title=Annapurna Launches Animation Division Ahead of 'Nimona' Release |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/annapurna-animation-division-nimona-release-1235273098/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=1 December 2022 |access-date=1 December 2022 |language=en}}

On March 4, 2023, it was revealed by The Hollywood Reporter that Amazon had shut down the operations of United Artists Releasing and folded it into MGM.{{Cite web|last= McClintock|first=Pamela|date=March 4, 2023 |title=Box Office: 'Creed III' Wins Title with Series-Best $51M Opening| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/creed-iii-box-office-opening-1235340591/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304165729/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/creed-iii-box-office-opening-1235340591/| archive-date=March 4, 2023|website= The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=September 8, 2023|quote= Amazon protected its newfound theatrical apparatus by folding United Artists Releasing into MGM.}}

In August 2024 Annapurna announced a "strategic cooperation agreement" with video game developer Remedy Entertainment during which Annapurna will co-produce and co-finance Control 2, and will also develop film and television projects involving Remedy's Alan Wake and Control.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/annapurna-remedy-control-alan-wake-1236072763/|title= Annapurna Teams With Remedy To Develop ‘Control’ & ‘Alan Wake’ Franchises For Film & TV|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date= August 29, 2024|work= Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 1, 2024}}

On September 12, 2024 news broke that the entire Annapurna Interactive Team of 25 resigned{{Cite news |date=2024-09-12 |title=Annapurna Video-Game Team Resigns, Leaving Partners Scrambling |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-09-12/annapurna-video-game-team-resigns-leaving-partners-scrambling?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTcyNjE3NzQyOSwiZXhwIjoxNzI2NzgyMjI5LCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTSlBZWklUMEFGQjQwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJCMUVBQkI5NjQ2QUM0REZFQTJBRkI4MjI1MzgyQTJFQSJ9.BpoA_wBJDrNbDbgj_LjnVUJQg6SM_vsIzWUEM6v85xE |access-date= 2024-09-13 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} following a dispute with its owner to spin off the video-game division as an independent entity.

The company expects to release "approximately four to six films per year".{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/10/mgm-theatrical-distribution-annapurna-james-bond-1202197849/|title=MGM Ramps Up Theatrical Distribution & Pacts With Annapurna; Easy Set Up To Roll Out Next Bond Film|first1=Anita|last1=Busch|date=Oct 31, 2017|access-date=Aug 12, 2019}}

Some of the films produced by the company have received widespread critical acclaim. In 2013 alone, Her, American Hustle and The Grandmaster had a combined seventeen Academy Award nominations. Commercially, results have been mixed. Some films like The Master, Foxcatcher, Joy, Detroit and Vice, however, do not return their budget while ones such as Zero Dark Thirty, Sausage Party and American Hustle have grossed more than $100 million, the latter grossing more than $250 million worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1447527937/ |title=Zero Dark Thirty |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=Internet Movie Database}}{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1867286017/ |title=American Hustle |work=Box Office Mojo |publisher=Internet Movie Database}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Annapurna Animation

| logo = File:Annapurna Animation logo.jpg

| type = Division

| industry = Animation
Motion pictures

| founders = Robert L. Baird
Andrew Millstein

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2022|12|1}}

| location_city = High Ridge Road, North Stamford, Connecticut{{cite web|last=DaRosa|first=Andrew|date=2 February 2024|title=How a CT animated movie, was canceled, revived and now up for an Oscar|url=https://www.ctpost.com/entertainment/article/nimona-blue-sky-greenwich-animated-movie-oscars-18644125.php|website=Connecticut Post|access-date=3 March 2024}}

| hq_location_country = U.S.

| num_employees = 11{{cite web|date=22 February 2024|title=Why Megan Ellison Saved 'Nimona': "I Needed This Movie"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/megan-ellison-saved-nimona-1235832043/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=1 March 2024}}

| num_employees_year = 2024

| services = Animation production
Animated films

| parent = Annapurna Pictures

}}

Annapurna Animation is an American animation studio and division of Annapurna Pictures, founded by former Blue Sky Studios executives Robert L. Baird and Andrew Millstein on December 1, 2022 and based in North Stamford, Connecticut. The studio's first film, Nimona, was released on June 30, 2023, on Netflix.

{{Infobox company

| name = Annapurna Television

| logo =

| type = Division

| industry = Television production

| founded = {{Start date and age|2016|9|27}}

| founder = Sue Naegle

| location_city = Los Angeles, California

| location_country = United States

| services = Television production

| parent = Annapurna Pictures

| website = {{URL|https://www.annapurna.com/tv}}

| key_people = Sue Naegle

}}

Annapurna Television is the television production company of Annapurna Pictures, launched on September 27, 2016, and was formerly headed by HBO executive Sue Naegle (with her label, Naegle Ink, now part of the division).{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/annapurna-pictures-taps-sue-naegle-933026|title=Annapurna Pictures Taps Sue Naegle to Head TV Division|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Bryn Elise|last=Sandberg|date=September 27, 2016|access-date=November 15, 2016}} In January 2017, it was reported that Annapurna Television would produce the Coen brothers' first TV project, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/coen-brothers-tv-project-annapurna-tv-1201882984/|title=Coen Brothers To Write & Direct First TV Project 'The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs'|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=January 10, 2017|access-date=January 11, 2017}}

{{main|Annapurna Interactive}}

Annapurna Interactive published its first video game, What Remains of Edith Finch, on April 25, 2017. What Remains of Edith Finch received "universal acclaim" on PC and "generally positive" reviews on PS4, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/what-remains-of-edith-finch/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=What Remains of Edith Finch|website=Metacritic.com|access-date=2017-04-25}} Since 2017, Annapurna Interactive has also been responsible for publishing games including Twelve Minutes, Donut County, Kentucky Route Zero, Outer Wilds, Sayonara Wild Hearts, Wattam, Telling Lies, Neon White and Stray. The publisher has also provided funding and publication support for The Artful Escape by Beethoven & Dinosaur,{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/a-musical-indie-game-starring-a-teen-with-a-cosmic-guit-1793174658 | title = A Musical Indie Game Starring A Teen With A Cosmic Guitar | first = Cecilia | last = D'Anastasio | date = 30 March 2017 | access-date = 17 June 2017 | work = Kotaku }} Ashen by A44 and Gorogoa by Jason Roberts.

Annapurna Theatre produces plays and live shows on, and off-Broadway.

• Point Grey Pictures

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website|https://www.annapurna.com/}}

{{Annapurna Pictures}}

{{Film studios}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Annapurna Pictures films

Category:Film production companies of the United States

Category:Film distributors of the United States

Category:Companies based in Los Angeles

Category:Mass media companies established in 2011

Category:2011 establishments in California

Category:American companies established in 2011

Category:American independent film studios

Category:International sales agents