Briarcliff Entertainment

Briarcliff Entertainment
IndustryEntertainment
GenreIndependent film
Founded2018; 6 years ago (2018)
FounderTom Ortenberg
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
,
United States of America
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Tom Ortenberg (CEO)
Services
Websitewww.briarcliffentertainment.com

Briarcliff Entertainment is an independent American film production and distribution company founded by former Open Road Films CEO Tom Ortenberg. Launched in 2018, the studio debuted with Michael Moore's documentary Farenheit 11/9 as their first film.[1] They went on to distribute mainly action films in the ensuing several years, including Honest Thief and Blacklight with Liam Neeson, and Copshop with Gerard Butler.[2][3][4]

In addition to Farenheit 11/9, the company has released other high profile political documentaries, including the critically acclaimed The Dissident,[5] about the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi, and Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down.[6]

During the summer of 2024, it was reported that Briarcliff was close to a deal to release the controversial Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice[7] after it initially languished without a distributor following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and a deal was later confirmed with an October 11 release date set.[8]

A few months later it was announced they would acquire Magazine Dreams,[9] the Sundance hit that was dropped by Searchlight Pictures[10] following the controversy surrounding its star Jonathan Majors.

  1. ^ Kilday, Gregg (August 15, 2018). "Michael Moore's 'Fahrenheit 11/9' Poster Takes Aim at "Tyrant" Trump". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (January 22, 2020). "Briarcliff Entertainment Acquires U.S. Rights To 'Honest Thief;' Action Thriller Stars Liam Neeson & Kate Walsh". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 23, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  3. ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (September 21, 2021). "Liam Neeson Action Thriller 'Blacklight' Set For Wide U.S. Release Through Briarcliff; Solution Entertainment Group Pic Gets February 2022 Release Date". Deadline. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  4. ^ Chang, Tom (September 17, 2021). "Copshop Review: Talented Core Lead Fun Psychological Action Romp". bleedingcool.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Lang, Brent (September 2, 2020). "Jamal Khashoggi Doc 'The Dissident' Sells to Briarcliff Entertainment". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Johnson, Ted (June 7, 2022). "Briarcliff Entertainment Drops Trailer For Betsy West-Julie Cohen Documentary 'Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down' – Update". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Barnes, Brooks (June 27, 2024). "Trump Biopic 'The Apprentice' Nears Distribution Deal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  8. ^ Yuan, Jada; Chery, Samantha (August 30, 2024). "Controversial Trump film 'The Apprentice' finally gets a release date". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Jr, Mike Fleming (October 2, 2024). "Briarcliff Gives Jonathan Majors Sundance Drama 'Magazine Dreams' Chance To Flex On Big Screen". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Couch, Aaron; Kit, Borys (January 17, 2024). "Jonathan Majors' 'Magazine Dreams' Leaves Searchlight as Filmmakers Shop for New Home (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.