Montreal: Incendo Media has added an important element to its product mix by signing a multiyear output agreement to distribute movies from L.A.-based Revolution Studios in the Canadian TV market.

Incendo president Stephen Greenberg, who has a long history with Revolution executive Tom Sherak, was able to convince U.S. producers that Incendo could do the job, in lieu of Columbia Pictures, which distributes Revolution's movies in the North American theatrical and home video market.

"Tom [Sherak] knows us well enough to understand it is in the best interests of their movies that they are distributed by us in Canada so we can get the best value," says Jean Bureau, president of affiliate production company JB Media. Greenberg and Bureau are partners in both companies.

Headed by former studio veterans Joe Roth and Sherak, Revolution is thought by some to be Hollywood's hottest new production company.

Revolution has a deal with Starz Encore for pay-TV in the U.S. and a TV output deal for its first 36 movies with FBC (Fox Broadcasting). PPV rights in Canada were not available to Incendo.

Incendo has licensed its initial Revolution slate to The Movie Network. Revolution titles include TomCats, The Animal, Triple X, America's Sweethearts with Billy Crystal and Julie Roberts, the action film The One, and Black Hawk Down (on pay in January).

Other Revolution movies in the pipeline, under the Columbia distribution banner, include Punch Drunk Love, produced in association with New Line Cinema and starring Adam Sandler; the romantic comedy Maid in Manhattan with Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes; the Bruce Willis starrer Tears of the Sun; the Flash "adult" animation film Little Pimp; Anger Management with Sandler and Jack Nicholson; the action comedy Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford; Mona Lisa's Smile with Julia Roberts; and Peter Pan, slated for theatres at Christmas 2003.

"This is a company that is run by filmmakers," says Greenberg. "Joe Roth has directed countless mega-productions over the years and they have drawn a level of talent that is probably unprecedented in the business. They are a very focused bunch."

JB Media started production Nov. 25 on its sixth "content" film in the past 14 months, Deadly Betrayal, starring Nicolette Sheridan and directed by Jason Hreno. The producer is prepping five new TV movies for 2003. "We think we have the muscle we need to carry on with these movies. We don't think we're going to have difficulties finding partners," adds Bureau.

First up in 2003 is the thriller Decoy with director Richard Roy (The Last Chapter). It begins filming in Montreal Jan. 13.

JB's niche is "thrillers and adventure suspense" in the $3-million to $5-million range, with the casting emphasis primarily on the female leads - Mercedes Ruehl, Shannen Doherty, Angie Everhart.

The house's '03 slate is a measure of good news for English TV talent in Montreal, who are having a seriously off year, with episodic production down 50% or more in 2002, according to the Directors Guild of Canada's Quebec Council.

TV movie production has declined over several years, and Bureau says between 30% and 50% of the cost of the productions is recouped in the North American market. Incendo sold the JB title The Rendering to WB and TNT. Two other films were presold to Court TV in the U.S.

Films premiering on The Movie Network, Movie Central and Super Ecran in Canada will be available for free TV in the last quarter of 2003.

Incendo doesn't have a Telefilm Canada distribution envelope, and although Bureau says they want to get involved with Canadian theatrical films, the sharp reduction in the publicly subsidized share for acquisitions and P&A marketing is a major stumbling block.

Greenberg says he expects "full marketing support" from Telefilm, adding that CAFDE hasn't won any of its battles with Telefilm in recent years.

"Canada needs a coherent [film] policy that can work both in Canada and internationally," he says. "[Telefilm] support of the distribution sector is abysmal. They decided that there were going to take the money away from distributors and give it to the producers."

Launched a year ago, Incendo is Canada's leading TV distributor, the result of output agreements with Twentieth Century Fox (The Simpsons, Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and the establishment of the joint-venture Fox/Incendo Television, HBO (The Sopranos, Band of Brothers), Hearst Entertainment, Dick Clark Productions, Court TV and GRB Entertainment. European partners include M5, RAI and CLT-UFA.