I have a wild guess that the creation of the Celllouid/Hanway love child was not "originally started over a mutual interest in building a video-on-demand service for both companies' extensive catalogue of quality films" as was stated in Mr. Kaufman’s article. I think there are a few more factors involved.

For anyone who has had to deal with Celluloid (or any other French sales company for that matter) the reality is that they simply cannot handle larger films and the work that they require in terms of delivery. Traditionally French sales companies are known for their taste but rather lacking on the business side. It is not rare to hear a French company say “why would you need the contracts in English?” Of course they do not usually have E and O or paid ad statements. Why would they need such things? You silly Americans and your paper work.

The reality is that these companies such have Celluloid have been selling these small foreign language films where the money they make out of the rest of the world is much higher than the US and the success of these films are not based at all on their success in the US.

This recently changed for Hengameh as she made her first ever trip to Sundance this year and was great by high (and possibly absurd) mgs for her two titles "Son of Ranbow" and "How She Moves." Now she has to deliver two movies to a studio…I think reality set in.

Hanway on the other hand as a long history of larger English language product. However, recently they have been expanding their catalogue with documentaries such as "Festival Express" and a doc about Joe Strummer. They have the infrastructure to deal with the US buyers and are possibly looking for some intros to some new distribs for some of their more eclectic titles. Thus a match is made. Yet to be seen what will come of it. Perhaps they will buy Cinetic next?