Vertical Entertainment today announce that they've acquired the military thriller "Boys of Abu Ghraib". The film marks the directorial debut of Luke Moran. It stars Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings trilogy), Sara Paxton (The Last House on the Left) and John Heard (Runner Runner) also co-star. The film is presented by acclaimed filmmakers Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, Traffic) and Marshall Herskovitz (The Last Samurai). "Boys of Abu Ghraib" is scheduled to hit theaters in limited release in March.

Press Release:

Vertical Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the military thriller BOYS OF ABU GHRAIB at the 2013 American Film Market. BOYS OF ABU GHRAIB marks the directorial debut from rising filmmaker Luke Moran, who also wrote, produced and starred in the film. Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings trilogy), Sara Paxton (The Last House on the Left) and John Heard (Runner Runner) also co-star. The film is presented by acclaimed filmmakers Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, Traffic) and Marshall Herskovitz (The Last Samurai), who also executive produced the picture with Rogan Donelly. BOYS OF ABU GHRAIB is scheduled for a theatrical release in March 2014. Vertical Entertainment’s President Rich Goldberg announced the deal today.

“BOYS OF ABU GHRAIB is a powerful story based on true events that shocked the world in 2004,” says Goldberg. “Director Luke Moran delivers a compelling film with powerful performances, demonstrating why he’s a triple threat and one to watch for. We are very fortunate to be a part of his feature debut.”

The deal was negotiated by Peter Jarowey on behalf of Vertical Entertainment and Resolution on behalf of the filmmakers.

Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment is handling international distribution and will be introducing the title at the upcoming American Film Market. Electric’s Head of International Distribution Sonia Mehandjiyska negotiated the deal on behalf of the company.

BOYS OF ABU GHRAIB explores a forbidden friendship between an American soldier and an Iraqi detainee during the infamous torture scandal in the world's most notorious prison: Abu Ghraib.

Vertical Entertainment has acquired all U.S. rights to the thriller SCENIC ROUTE, starring Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven, Transformers 1,2, and 3) and Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury and Kung Fu Panda) at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival. The film marks Kevin and Michael Goetz directorial debut from a screenplay by Kyle Killen (The Beaver). SCENIC ROUTE first premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival to strong reviews and will be released theatrically in August 2013. Vertical Entertainment’s Rich Goldberg announced the deal today.

“Josh Duhamel has over one billion dollars in box office to his name, yet somehow finds a role in SCENIC ROUTE, unlike any other he’s had before” said Goldberg. "He truly has brought himself to another level, and paired with the wonderful Dan Fogler, we felt the success of the film couldn’t be questioned in the independent market. We plan on utilizing every platform possible, from theatrical, digital and VOD, physical, as well as all other ancillary markets to get this film to as broad an audience as possible.”

“Given the ever-changing landscape of domestic distribution, Vertical’s experience, spirited initiative and resourcefulness simply places SCENIC ROUTE in the best position to find its audience and prosper,” said producer Brion Hambel. “Rich and his team leave no stone unturned…and in a time of slimmer margins, this is paramount to the overall success of an independent film.”
SCENIC ROUTE was produced by Brion Hambel and Paul Jensen of Best Medicine Productions (Natural Selection), Anonymous Content’s Luke Rivett (Something Real and Good) and Scott Freeman; and executive produced by Duhamel, Keith Redmon (Rendition, The Beaver) and Paul Green (Fun Size, The Beaver).

The deal was negotiated by Peter Jarowey on behalf of Vertical Entertainment and Matthew Sugarman of Weintraub Tobin on behalf of the filmmakers.

Premiere Entertainment is handling international sales during the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival.

Mitchell (Josh Duhamel) and Carter (Dan Fogler), life-long friends who have drifted apart, are on a road trip when their old pickup breaks down, leaving them stranded on an isolated desert road. Nobody can pick apart a man like his best friend, and as the relentless elements of the desert grind them down, they start to attack each other’s life decisions with unwavering brutality. As they question who they are and who they could have been, their agitation leads to physical confrontation and ultimately knife-wielding madness, and what begins as an inconvenience becomes a very real life or death struggle.