Warner Independent Pictures

Warner Independent Pictures

Former type	Subsidiary of Warner Bros.
Fate	Retired
Founded	August 2003
Defunct	May 8, 2008
Website	http://wip.warnerbros.com/

Warner Independent Pictures was the specialty division of film studio Warner Bros. Entertainment. Established in August 2003, its first release was 2004's Before Sunset. The division financed, produced, acquired and distributed feature films largely budgeted under $20 million.

The use of independent in its name is not literal, as it is a division of Warner Bros., itself a division of media conglomerate Time Warner. Mark Gill was the division's first President. After a controversial departure, Gill was replaced by former Warner Bros. production executive Polly Cohen served as President of this division until fall 2008 when the company was officially shut down. While well-versed in big-budget motion picture production, it was widely believed Ms. Cohen did not have strong enough backgrounds in independent film, or in the marketing/publicity aspects of film distribution to hold that role. This led to a lackluster slate and output, after a successful initial run under Gill.

In February 2008, Time Warner announced that it would merge New Line Cinema into Warner Bros.. New Line's "independent" group Picturehouse was expected to be merged into Warner Independent as part of this process. On May 8, 2008, however, it was announced that both of these specialty divisions would be shut down. In 2013, Picturehouse was relaunched under separate ownership.

Films

Title	Release Date	Notes
Before Sunset	July 2, 2004
A Home at the End of the World	July 23, 2004
We Don't Live Here Anymore	August 13, 2004
Criminal	September 10, 2004
Around the Bend	October 8, 2004
A Very Long Engagement	December 17, 2004
The Jacket	March 4, 2005
Eros	April 8, 2005
March of the Penguins	July 22, 2005	multiple award winner, including an Academy Award for Documentary Feature
Everything Is Illuminated	September 16, 2005
Good Night, and Good Luck	October 14, 2005	multiple Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture (logo appeared in black and white)
Paradise Now	October 28, 2005	Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World	January 20, 2006
Duck Season	March 10, 2006
The Promise	May 5, 2006
A Scanner Darkly	July 7, 2006
The Science of Sleep	September 22, 2006	co-production with Gaumont, France 3 Cinéma and Canal+
Infamous	October 13, 2006
For Your Consideration	November 22, 2006	co-production with Castle Rock Entertainment and Shangri-La Entertainment
The Painted Veil	January 19, 2007
The Astronaut Farmer	February 23, 2007
Introducing the Dwights	August 3, 2007	known as "Clubland" in Australia
The 11th Hour	August 17, 2007
December Boys	September 14, 2007
In the Valley of Elah	September 28, 2007	co-production with Summit Entertainment
Rails & Ties	October 26, 2007
Darfur Now	November 2, 2007
Snow Angels	March 7, 2008
Funny Games	March 14, 2008	co-production with Tartan Films, Celluloid Dreams and FilmFour
Towelhead	September 26, 2008
Slumdog Millionaire	November 12, 2008	co-production with Pathé UK, Celador Films and FilmFour, which was sold to Fox Searchlight Pictures after Warner Independent closed. The main Warner Bros. studio logo, which is not the Independent one appears at the beginning of the film after the Fox Searchlight logo, and Warner retained distribution rights in some countries outside North America. However, Fox Searchlight is its distributor in North America, and FoxStar handles it in India, where the film is set. After Warner Independent closed, the film seemed destined to go straight to DVD before the deal with Fox Searchlight. Slumdog Millionaire would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

External links

• Warner Independent Pictures at the Internet Movie Database