Lightning Entertainment, the Santa Monica-based sales, production and distribution company, announced today that it has acquired international sales rights in all media to seven new completed theatrical feature films and will debut the new slate at the upcoming American Film Market. All seven titles will have their first market screenings at AFM, with three key titles making their World Premiere debut: BRAKE, COLUMBUS CIRCLE, and WRATH.

The announcement of the new lineup is part of the company’s ongoing drive to acquire and develop high profile titles that will satisfy demand across all distribution platforms both internationally and in the United States, where the company is expanding its presence as a domestic all rights distributor. For three of the films, BLOODWORK, THE REVENANT and BOY WONDER, Lightning has acquired worldwide distribution rights and will be releasing them in the US through their domestic distribution label, Lightning Media. In the US, Lightning is continuing to expand its extensive reach via its direct VOD and digital release platforms, which it combines with traditional theatrical and home entertainment channels.

The new films span a number of genres from horror to comedy and feature top international stars including Stephen Dorff, Michael C. Hall, Lucy Liu, Selma Blair, Amy Smart, and Giovanni Ribisi.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring this slate of films to AFM for our buyers,” said Robert Beaumont, President of Lightning Entertainment. “The reinvigorated marketplace is looking for compelling stories and cast driven theatrical feature films that will appeal to global audiences and we aim to satisfy that buoyant demand.”

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The story is timeless. It is about loving someone more than anything else. It is about giving up something you love for another person. It is about true love. It reflects the true meaning of the season, which is not about material objects but about caring for someone else even more than you care for yourself.

Marla Sokoloff is adorable as Della. She’s a sparkling character who discovers true love then loses it, only to find it in the end.

This movie is family approved by the DOVE foundation which searches out faith and family films.

* Gift of the Magi DVD
* Studio: Vivendi Entertainment
* Running time: 85 minutes

The DVD will be released on October 18, 2011 and you can pre-order it today at Amazon.com!

This is the first child for both Marla, 30, and her husband, musician Alec Puro, 36, who tied the knot in 2009. “They don’t know if it’s a boy or girl yet,” Lisa tells Life & Style. “They are just so excited.” The actress, also famous for her role as Stephanie Tanner’s bad-girl best friend Gia Mahan on Full House in the early ’90s, married her longtime love Alec in 2009. Prior to her marriage, she was in a five-year relationship with actor James Franco, whom she met on the set of Whatever It Takes in 2000.

Along with her upcoming role as a mother, Marla can also be seen in the upcoming film Scents and Sensibility (release date: TBA) alongside Nick Zano (TV’s What I Like About You) and Ashley Williams (Something Borrowed). Congratulations to Marla and Alec on their expanding family!

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A BIG congratulations to Marla and Alec on this great news!

After their father is charged with swindling investors, Elinor (Ashley Williams) and Marianne Dashwood (Marla Sokoloff) must make their own way in life and love. They struggle to find jobs where being a Dashwood isn’t a strike against them. While Elinor finds work as a janitor at a spa, Marianne works as a copy assistant.

Their struggle to make ends meet–especially so they can help their mother pay for a critical medicine for their younger sister–is lightened by Marianne’s hobby of making scented lotions. One lotion heals aches and pains, which they sell to supplement their resources.

But others want the scented lotion formula, which could be worth a fortune. While Elinor and Marianne try to find love and acceptance, their trust is tested by those scheming to steal the formula. Can they come to a balance of relying on their hearts and sense without losing it all?

Marla Sokoloff (“The Practice”) Guest Stars as Abigail West, One of the Party Guests
Alexa Havins (“All My Children”) Guest Stars as Jessica Thompson, One of the Invitees

“Party Down” — When a tractor-trailer carrying exclusive party guests mysteriously ends up at the bottom of the Hudson River, the CSIs must solve the mystery from the soggy remains, on CSI: NY, at a special time, Friday, Feb. 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

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“Gift of the Magi” premieres Thursday, December 16th at 8/7c on the Hallmark Channel!

Gift of the Magi stars Marla Sokoloff (The Practice) and Scott Webber (Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World) as Della and Jim Young, financially strapped newlyweds about to spend their first Christmas together. Challenged to buy secret gifts for each other, both end up selling their most prized possessions.

An amateur photographer, Della focuses her prized, but well worn, Nikon 35mm camera on reluctant Jim, persuading him to pose with his beloved, but dilapidated ’55 Chevy Bel Air convertible. Della longs for a professional zoom lens to take better pictures of the man she loves. Camera-shy Jim sits in the Chevy pretending to drive, but his four-wheel antique has no steering wheel. He can buy parts at the junkyard, but more than anything, Jim is passionate to own the original steering wheel.

When the couple’s everyday car is stolen and they exhaust their savings buying a new one, Jim and Della make the difficult decision not to buy any gifts this Christmas, but determined to get Jim his steering wheel, Della takes a second job, making up excuses for why she is late every night. The pair begins to drift apart because Della is tired from pulling double shifts, while Jim harbors anger about being alone so much of the time.

As Christmas gets closer, Jim and Della’s relationship worsens and it will take a Christmas miracle–or some wise gift-giving–to bring them back together and learn about the all-consuming love that comes from giving up a lot while expecting only a little.

The world premiere of the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Gift of the Magi” will air on Hallmark Channel Wednesday, December 15 at 8pm/7 central.

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Aside from Nick Zano in Scents and Sensibility you’ll also see actor Brad Johnson and Ashley Williams. Rumor has it that the movie is set to start filming in Utah soon. So far the details surrounding the movie’s plot is scarce but we’ll keep you posted.

I’ll be sure to post more information about the film when it becomes available!

Good luck to Marla!