EPIX Acquires Filthy Gorgeous: The Extraordinary World of Bob Guccione

Original Documentary on colorful Penthouse Magazine founder begins production Fall 2012 for 2013 Premiere on EPIX

NEW YORK--()--EPIX has acquired U.S. broadcasting and streaming rights to Barry Avrich’s feature-length documentary film Filthy Gorgeous: The Extraordinary World of Bob Guccione, an honest, hard-hitting account of the Renaissance man and provocateur. The EPIX Original Documentary begins production this Fall and will premiere on EPIX in the Fall of 2013 as part of the network’s Wednesday Docs series.

Filthy Gorgeous tells the story of Penthouse magazine founder Bob Guccione, a visionary, public-relations master, recluse and self-destructive optimist, who went from the pinnacle of power, worth hundreds of millions of dollars - to virtually dying penniless.

Filmmaker Barry Avrich decided to make Filthy Gorgeous the day Guccione passed away. “I realized that Guccione’s outrageous, yet powerful legacy, could be a spectacular film. Whether making films, dethroning Miss America, or pushing the envelope in science and publishing, Guccione was an icon.”

With dreams of establishing his own movie studio, Guccione branched out into Hollywood, investing money in The Longest Yard, The Day of the Locust and Chinatown. In 1976, he began work on Caligula, the world's first big budget X-rated film.

Avrich’s past directing efforts have included documentaries on powerful, entertainment moguls: Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project and The Last Mogul: The Lew Wasserman Story.

Produced, Written and Directed by Barry Avrich, Filthy Gorgeous: The Extraordinary World of Bob Guccione is a Melbar Entertainment Group production in association with EPIX, Astral’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Cental, with funding from Rogers Telefund, CAVCO and the OMDC.

About EPIX

EPIX is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox consoles, first on Android tablets and phones, first on Roku® players and is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®, iPhones®, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network.

EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD.

Contacts

EPIX
Jamie Colunga
jcolunga@epixhd.com
(212) 846-1843
or
FRANK PR
Clare Anne Darragh – ClareAnne@FrankPublicity.com
Lina Plath – Lina@FrankPublicity.com
(646) 861-0843

Contacts

EPIX
Jamie Colunga
jcolunga@epixhd.com
(212) 846-1843
or
FRANK PR
Clare Anne Darragh – ClareAnne@FrankPublicity.com
Lina Plath – Lina@FrankPublicity.com
(646) 861-0843