I could probably dig out a contact for Schlondorff but I doubt he could help though he does generally keep track of US rights on his films. Even if you located the rights holder the odds of them making a deal on film they don't currently have in US distribution is pretty much zero. It is just very common for non studio films to fall through the cracks like this. You need a rights holder who does not think the film is worth an insane amount money and a distributor interested in picking it up. I think a lot of companies ( Criterion, Anchor Bay, Kino , Cohen Media and others) are actually searching to acquire many of these films that have fallen out of distribution. I would say the problem is usually on the overseas rights holder end but there can also be complicated legal issues over who owns what.
The only bright side is that I see titles "come back" into distribution almost every day and this is a title I am sure many distributors would want so hopefully something will happen In the meantime just let them watch it on DVD, not like that is most horrible thing in the world Jessica On Fri, Apr 22, 2016 at 10:25 AM, Reynolds, Jo Ann < jo_ann.reyno...@uconn.edu> wrote: > Hi All, > > > > The Handmaid’s Tale is not even available via pay per view. I’ve done a > lot of searching but don’t even find new copies of the DVD for sale. > > Anybody know the story behind it? Did the rights expire and no one wants > to renew? Or, does the rights holder not want to reissue or stream it? > > > > Normally I’d contact producer/director (Wolfgang Glattes/Volker > Schlondorffbut) being a feature film I’m figuring it won’t turn up anything. > > IMDB show Cinecom Pictures had the theatrical rights, MGM the DVD, HBO the > VHS, Image Entertainment the video. > > The DVD or stream does not turn up on HBO or MGM websites. I’m not turning > up anything for Cinecom and I’ve written to Image Entertainment. > > > > It is quite frequently requested for classes here at UConn. > > > > Jo Ann > > > > Jo Ann Reynolds > > Reserve Services Coordinator > > Homer Babbidge Library > > University of Connecticut > > 369 Fairfield Road, Unit 1005R > > Storrs, CT 06269-1005 > > 860-486-1406 > > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as > an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > >
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
