MUMBAI: Promenade Pictures, the family driven production and distribution outfit formed by former studio head Frank Yablans, will enter the US theatrical distribution arena with the theatrical release of its epic 3D CGI animated feature The Ten Commandments on 26 October, 2007.

The film is the first in a branded, twelve-film series from Promenade known as Epic Stories of the Bible. The announcement was made by Promenade Pictures president and COO Cindy Bond.

Promenade Pictures is strategically positioned to distribute its own slate of feature films as well as films acquired by the company to fully service independent filmmakers with production budgets from $5 – $20 million. Specialising in family filmed entertainment, Promenade will distribute four – six films per year, handling both wide releases for family films with strong mainstream appeal as well as films selected for niche platform releases.

Epic Stories of the Bible is now a fully-funded brand for Promenade Pictures. Each film will be produced by Promenade along with its partners – New Zealand-based Huhu Studios and Singapore-based iVL Animation (owned by ST Electronics). Promenade will market and distribute all of the films theatrically in the US while retaining worldwide rights. Upcoming films in the franchise will be announced in the coming months.

The Ten Commandments is voiced by Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley (narrator), Christian Slater (Moses), Alfred Molina (Ramses) and Academy Award nominee Elliott Gould (God). The film is directed by Bill Boyce (Hermie & Friends) and John Stronach (Ben Hur, Cahoots) from a screenplay by Ed Naha (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids).

Bond said, “Expanding into theatrical distribution is the logical next step for this company as we’ve stepped up development and production operations over the last year. We have been in business for four years, and over the course of these four years, we have worked diligently to nurture the writers to ensure strong screenplays. Our mission from the first day we opened our doors was to produce product that families throughout the world can see and enjoy. We are firmly committed to maintaining Promenade’s accelerated growth path and will be adding to our theatrical release schedule in the coming months.”

“We at Promenade are extremely proud to present our first motion picture release. Promenade is in a unique position to facilitate the production and distribution of quality values-based entertainment to families worldwide. Our sole purpose is to market and distribute family entertainment content. Not since the young Walt Disney and his brother Roy had a similar vision in 1938 has an opportunity like this been present,” Frank Yablans said.