‘Emperor,’ Three Other Films Come to Image

Image Entertainment signed a license agreement for four films, including Academy Award-winner “The Last Emperor,” the company announced Wednesday. The agreement gives Chatsworth-based Image home video, digital and broadcast rights to the four titles, all produced by Jeremy Thomas. For home video, Image will release movie-only versions, while Criterion, distributed through Image, will release special edition versions. Along with “The Last Emperor,” the agreement covers Japanese prisoner-of-war film “Merry Christman, Mr. Lawrence;” “The Hit;” and drama/comedy “Insignificance.” “The Last Emperor” won 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. “These films certainly enhance our library and heighten the profile of films Image will acquire and distribute in the future,” said company COO David Borshell. On March 30, it was announced that Image had been acquired by BTP Acquisition Co., LLC for $132 million. The transaction is expected to close by July 31.