(New York, NY) October 18, 2012 — Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to Rowan Athale’s acclaimed feature debut Wasteland, from Bankside Films. The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month. Oscilloscope plans a 2013 release for the film.

Athale makes an assured debut with Wasteland, creating a fresh and exciting spin on the heist genre. Harvey Miller, a young Englishman recently released from prison, recruits his three best friends and devises a complex scheme to rob the local drug kingpin (who also happens to be the reason for Harvey’s incarceration). To complicate matters further, Harvey must balance exacting his revenge and pulling off this major score with trying to win back his reluctant but still-caring ex-girlfriend.

Wasteland marks a calling card for Rowan Athale as a major new cinematic voice, whose energetic style is complemented by a strong, authentic sense of place and well-drawn, multi-dimensional characters. The film stars Luke Treadaway (Clash of the Titans, Attack The Block) as Harvey, and features Timothy Spall, Iwan Rheon, Matthew Lewis, Gerard Kearns, and Vanessa Kirby.

Of the acquisition, David Laub of Oscilloscope said, “Wasteland is an incredibly clever and fun piece of filmmaking, and we are thrilled to be able to bring it to US audiences. This is one of the most impressive debut films we’ve seen in a long time—Rowan has taken the classic heist movie and gives it his own unique and exciting spin, creating a vibrant, captivating film that takes the audience on a great ride.”

Filmmaker Rowan Athale said, “Nothing could be more exciting than the prospect of taking Wasteland to the US audience and Oscilloscope are absolutely the right company to do it. The passion that David Laub and Dan Berger have shown for the film is matched only by their understanding of the audience and what it takes to find your place in the market, and I am more than proud to have Wasteland find it’s home with them in the US.”

Wasteland is a Moli-Mischief film, produced by Gareth Pritchard of Mischief Films with Mark Foligno of MoliFilms and Ed Barratt of Hook Pictures. Financiers include MoliFilms, Bankside Films and Lip Sync. Executive producers are Phil Hunt, Compton Ross, Norman Merry, Peter Hampden, Brad Moore and Iain Richardson.

The deal was negotiated by David Laub and Dan Berger of Oscilloscope with Stephen Kelliher of Bankside Films, who represented the filmmakers.

The film has previously been sold to Momentum Pictures for UK & Eire, Encore Inflight for world airlines, Hopscotch Films for Australia/New Zealand, Films Distribution for France, Shani Films for Israel, and Nettai Museum for Japan.

(New York, NY) October 14, 2012 – Oscilloscope Laboratories’ release of Ron Fricke’s and Mark Magidson’s hit documentary SAMSARA (currently in theaters) has become the studio’s highest-grossing film since its inception in February 2008. This weekend, SAMSARA surpassed the company’s prior benchmark, 2011’s WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, which totaled $1.74 MM at the domestic box office.

SAMSARA marks the third collaboration between Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films BARAKA and CHRONOS brought a new visual and musical artistry to theaters. Filmed over a period of five years in twenty-five countries on five continents, and shot on 70mm film, SAMSARA subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary. It explores the wonders of our world, from the mundane to the miraculous, combining breathtaking images with transcendent music to create a unique and powerful experience that infuses the ancient with the modern.

SAMSARA opened in New York and Seattle on August 24th to the highest per-screen-average of any documentary released in 2012 and fifth highest of any film for the year at that time – an impressive $38,111 per screen. The critically-praised film expanded to Los Angeles the following week and then nationwide, where it continues to perform, with many theaters yet to open. The film has grossed over 1.8MM as of October 14, 2012 (the filmmaker’s previous effort, Baraka, took in $1.33MM by the end of its run).

Earlier this year, Oscilloscope’s release of SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS, a documentary about the band LCD SOUNDSYSTEM’s final concert at Madison Square Garden, grossed over $500k in primarily one-night-only showings around the country. SHUT UP AND PLAY THE HITS was the first Oscilloscope release since executives Dan Berger and David Laub took over at the helm of the company in May, following the passing of company founder Adam Yauch and the departure of David Fenkel.

Dan Berger and David Laub said, “We couldn’t be more thrilled about the success of SAMSARA. It’s a great film that perfectly represents the kind of unique, audacious, and personal cinema for which Oscilloscope will always stand. SAMSARA’S box office is a testament not only to the brilliant film Ron and Mark have made, but also to the hard work of everyone at O-Scope. We will be celebrating with pizza and a clown.”

On working with O-scope, Mark Magidson said, “It has been a privilege to witness first hand the work ethic and dedication the entire Oscilloscope team has demonstrated. Dan and David have guided the company through challenging circumstances with enthusiasm, hard work, and professionalism.”