ITALIAN PUBLISHING GIANT ATLANTYCA ENTERTAINMENT AND THE GOTHAM GROUP TEAM UP TO BRING ACCLAIMED BOOK SERIES “CENTURY” TO THE SCREEN

leading publishing and entertainment company, Atlantyca Entertainment is partnering with The Gotham Group, a multi-faceted management and production company, representing some of the most creative minds and content in Hollywood, on the film version of leading Italian publisher Edizioni Piemme’s acclaimed book series Century. The announcement was made jointly today by Atlantyca Entertainment’s Senior Manager and Executive Producer Caterina Vacchi. and The Gotham Group founder and CEO Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Gotham will take the property to A-list directors immediately.

The Gotham Group will work in partnership with Atlantyca to produce the popular Century property for the big screen. The Century book series, recently launched in the US by Random House, is written by leading Italian author Pierdomenico Baccalario and is among a number of literary properties from leading Italian publishing house Edizioni Piemme which are represented by Atlantyca Entertainment’s foreign rights division

Packed with action, adventure, and historical legends, the Century book series follows the incredible challenges of four teens and their families – Elettra from Rome, Harvey from New York, Mistral from Paris, and Sheng from Shanghai – as they search for four ancient objects of power each connected to one of the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Fulfilling old prophecies, the four soon learn they are “chosen ones” specially selected to complete special missions, usually involving the uncovering of a number of hidden and mysterious objects that will settle an important, vital and legendary pact between man and nature. The book series currently boasts 11 other publishers internationally.

“We have held Atlantyca in high regard for such a long time,” said Goldsmith-Vein. “We believe the Century book series has the makings for a fantastic four-quadrant film franchise. The opportunity to produce this project with them is very exciting.” Since founding The Gotham Group in 1994, publishers have relied on Goldsmith-Vein and her colleagues to marry their projects, authors, and illustrators with screenwriters, directors, and studios to transform a literary title into a successful cinematic vehicle.

“Without exception, we are thrilled to partner with the esteemed Gotham Group on what is our first foray into theatrical entertainment,” said Caterina Vacchi, Senior Manager, Executive Producer for Atlantyca Entertainment. We know we are in good hands with a company whose producing credits include The Spiderwick Chronicles and who reps a variety of talent and services across the entertainment industry, from directors and writers to publishing houses and comic book companies. We look forward to working with them in finding the right partners to develop this for the big screen.”

The books’ author, Baccalario, is currently editor-in chief at Atlantyca Entertainment, overseeing the development of the Code Lyoko book series. His credits include Il Principe della Citta Di Sabbia (written with the Italian director Enzo D’Alò); La Strada del Guerriero, L’Ombra del Corvo. Baccalario’s children’s book credits include the popular Ulysses Moore (Scholastic Inc.) and Candy Circle.

About Atlantyca Entertainment.
Atlantyca Entertainment was established in September 2006, by leading Italian publishing entrepreneur and creator Pietro Marietti who with Elisabetta Dami, produced one of today’s most successful junior publishing sensations, the celebrated kids book series Geronimo Stilton. A multi-faceted entertainment company with production, licensing, publishing and a foreign rights sales divisions, Atlantyca Entertainment seeks co-production partners (and to acquire third party properties) to produce content for TV, movies, books and multi-media. The company, along with co-production partner Moonscoop, is currently in final production on the new Geronimo Stilton animated series set to premiere fall 2009.
Atlantyca’s foreign rights sales departments, the licensor of the Geronimo Stilton book series that is responsible for seeking new business opportunities for the books and all of its character spin-off franchises, has secured 1300 deals with publishers such as Random House US, Scholastic US, Planeta, Sun Ya, and 21st Century Publishing House . The publishing department aims to create, develop and produce loosely based book series based on new and popular animated series, and is currently developing novels for Moonscoop’s Code Lyoko, Dive Olly Dive and Hero 108. Atlantyca Entertainment is responsible for the sales of foreign rights for Piemme children’s books and properties, and through a dedicated foreign rights sales division has secured 1300 translation deals with 50 leading publishers around the world.

The company’s licensing division manages the international licensing initiatives for the Geronimo Stilton brand and is the appointed Italian licensing agent for Moonscoop’s Code Lyoko, Growing Up Creepie and Dive Olly Dive. The division recently became the Italian licensing agent for the classic rights to Le Petit Prince. Atlantyca is a co-production partner and distributor (Italy only) for Dive Olly Dive (Season II) animated series. www.atlantyca.com

About the Gotham Group: The Gotham Group is a multi-faceted management and production company, representing some of the most creative minds in Hollywood. The Gotham Group also produces a host of live-action and animation projects that break barriers and defy convention. The Gotham Group boasts a roster of over 500 top directors, writers, producers, illustrators, and artists, as well as book and comic book publishers and animation studios. In addition to ongoing projects, Goldsmith-Vein and The Gotham Group are set produce a Kirk Ellis (John Adams) adaptation of Papa Hemingway: A Personal Memoir for the big screen. As a producer, Gotham’s Goldsmith-Vein’s credits include children’s programming, live action and animated feature films and primetime television series. Goldsmith-Vein was a producer on the feature film The Spiderwick Chronicles (Paramount/Nickelodeon Movies), based on the best-selling series of fantasy books written by The Gotham Group clients, Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Goldsmith-Vein’s other upcoming feature film producing credits include: Simon Bloom: The Gravity Keeper, to be directed by Gary Ross for Universal; The Devil You Know, to be directed by Shawn Levy for 20th Century Fox; Stargirl for DreamWorks to be directed by Paul Feig, based on the novel by Jerry Spinelli; and Ghostopolis, based on client Doug TenNapel’s graphic novel. Other breakthrough film projects include Quantum Quest, a Large Format film; Big Brave Brian starring Dwayne Johnson; The Family Hitchcock, written by Jennifer Flacket and Mark Levin; Saving Juliet, set to star Miley Cyrus; and the Untitled Keith Haring Biopic to be directed by Oren Moverman and starring Ben Foster.

Media Contact:
Atlantyca Entertainment: Sabrina Propper, RPIPR: spropper.rpipr {at} gmail(.)com; cell: 818.515.5798

The Gotham Group:
For Gotham Group:
Maggie Begley
310.301.1785
maggie {at} mbcprinc(.)com

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Sabrina Propper
President
R.Propper International Public Relations
twitter: @spropper09
818.515.5798 (Cell)
NEW OFFICE # 661.259-8700 office
www.rpipr.com

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