October Films facts for kids
| Industry | Independent film |
|---|---|
| Fate | Sold to USA Networks and merged with Gramercy Pictures, Interscope Communications and PolyGram Filmed Entertainment |
| Successor | USA Films (1999-2002) Focus Features (2002-present) |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Founder | Bingham Ray Jeff Lipsky |
| Defunct | 1999 |
| Owner | Seagram (1997-1999) |
| Parent | Universal Pictures (1997-1999) |
| Subsidiaries | Rogue Pictures |
October Films was an American company that helped make and share movies. It was founded in 1991 by Bingham Ray and Jeff Lipsky. They started the company to distribute a film called Life Is Sweet.
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About October Films
What Was October Films?
October Films was known for working with independent films. These are movies made outside of the big Hollywood studios. Independent films often tell unique stories or have a special style.
The company was both a production company and a distributor. This means they helped create movies and also made sure those movies got shown in theaters and to audiences. They played a big role in bringing many interesting films to people in the 1990s.
How October Films Grew and Changed
Over time, October Films went through several big changes. In 1997, a large company called Universal Pictures bought most of October Films. Universal Pictures was part of an even bigger company called Seagram.
Later, in 1999, Barry Diller bought the company from Universal. He changed its name to USA Films. USA Films then combined with other movie companies like Interscope Communications and Gramercy Pictures.
The company changed hands again in 2002. It became part of a new company called Focus Features. Focus Features is still around today and continues to release many independent and international films.
Movies They Helped Make
October Films was involved with many different movies during its time. They helped bring a variety of stories to the screen. Here are a few examples of films they released:
- Life Is Sweet (1991)
- Cronos (1994)
- Secrets & Lies (1996)
- Lost Highway (1997)
- The Apostle (1998)
- Hilary and Jackie (1999)
- Topsy-Turvy (1999)
Even after October Films changed its name to USA Films, it continued to distribute movies. Some of these later films included:
- Traffic (2000)
- The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)
- Gosford Park (2002)
They also helped distribute many other films from different countries. This showed their commitment to sharing diverse stories with American audiences.
