Independent Film Loses an Ally in Hollywood

Warner Independent Pictures, established in August 2003 as a specialty division of Warner Brothers Entertainment, will cease operations in the fall after the release of their current films. Warner Independent, a frequent partner with Reel Progress over the years, has cosponsored screenings of "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World," "11th Hour," and "In the Valley of Elah."

According to Variety, the end of Warner Independent may be part of a larger trend with Picturehouse also folding and Paramount bringing the Vantage label into their parent company. The cost of producing, marketing, and distributing specialty films has skyrocketed, and even though moviegoers may perceive Oscar-contenders such as "Babel," "There Will Be Blood," and "Into the Wild" as winners, the studios didn’t profit from them.

The Reel Progress team will miss working with our former collaborators and wish them the best of luck.

Reel Progress is the progressive film series sponsored by the Center for American Progress. Since March of 2005, the Center has hosted free screenings open to the public in DC and around the country. These screenings are followed by provocative panel discussions with leading policy experts, actors and filmmakers. We aim to advance a progressive agenda through innovative films that connect the arts to campaigns for social change and progressive public policy.