Nat Geo links with Image Nation, Hyde Park

National Geographic's feature film operation is restructuring, bringing together its existing partnership with Image Nation to incorporate Ashok Amritraj's Hyde Park Entertainment inside a venture which will produce National Geographic-top quality films along with other entertainment items. Image Nation already had separate production close ties with Nat Geo and Hyde Park. Using the consolidation, Amritraj assists as Boss from the new partnership. National Geographic Feature Film topper Daniel Battsek will segue to some talking to role consequently from the reorg. Battsek, former Miramax Films topper, became a member of Nat Geo in March 2010 like a alternative for Adam Leipzig. National Geographic's most widely known around the film side for that 2005 doc "March from the Penguins," which made a lot more than $125 million worldwide. The brand new venture will build up features in addition to docus and television series. "We love to Hyde Park's method of the company, their growth and success in Asia, cheap Ashok and the team happen to be working carefully with this partner, Image Nation," stated Tim Kelly, leader of National Geographic Society. "This partnership is sensible all angles, by folding our current feature film effort into this startup company, we'll have the ability to pursue bigger, more ambitious projects and expand into growing marketplaces like India and China." Image Nation Abu Dhabi is a financial backer of both companies. Chairman Mohamed Al Mubarak stated, "This venture will advance our relationship with both Hyde Park and National Geographic. Simultaneously it'll provide an execllent chance for youthful Emirati filmmakers to achieve real life, hands-on experience that can help build their personal/professional systems so important to success within the film industry." Amritraj stated Hyde Park and National Geographic have experienced a detailed relationship with Image Nation through the years. "By aiming the 2 brands, we produce a dynamic venture that delivers high-quality entertainment to audiences all over the world,Inch he stated. Hyde Park Intl. would be the worldwide sales repetition. National Geographic Films signed a partnership in 2008 with Imagenation Abu Dhabi to invest in movies, carrying out $100 million for 10-15 features over 5 years -- giving Nat Geo the assets to get and distribute arthouse and world film game titles together with creating its very own films. The very first film in the partnership was Peter Weir's "The Way In Which Back," in line with the true story of soldiers' avoid a Siberian gulag, with worldwide grosses around $25 million. National Geographic Cinema Endeavors distributed the Afghanistan war documentary "Restrepo." Nat Geo created and distribbed "The Final Lions" this season with domestic gross of $635,000. Hyde Park and Image Nation Abu Dhabi joined on the $250 million financing offer 2009 to build up, produce and distribute movies and extended their partnership to produce a proper alliance with Singapore's Media Development Authority. Underneath the latter deal, Hyde Park-Image Nation Singapore was released this year to finance multiple films worth an believed production worth of $75 million. The Hyde Park-Image Nation partnership is within publish-production on "Ghost Driver: Spirit of Vengeance" with The new sony handling the world day and date release on February. 17. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com