MUMBAI: The US-based producer and distributor of home entertainment products Genius Products, Inc. is adding a library of more than 60 independent films to its slate of DVD releases through an exclusive distribution agreement with Tartan Video USA.

The deal was announced by Genius Products CEO Trevor Drinkwater and Tartan Video USA President Tony Borg.Established in September 2004, Tartan USA boasts a library of more than 60 world-renowned eclectic-and often controversial-feature length independent films. The library includes Tartan's Asia Extreme line of horror films, a fast-growing contemporary genre featuring the best of cinema from the Far East with such cult favorites as the 2004 Cannes Grand Jury Prize winner Oldboy, A Tale Of Two Sisters, and Takashi Shimizu's Marebito. The library generated approximately $6 million of net revenue in 2005 and is expected to grow to $9 million in 2006, states an official release.

In addition to distributing Tartan's library of critically acclaimed films, Genius will distribute all new releases from Tartan Video USA, the American arm of Hamish McAlpine's Tartan Films. The first titles set for release this summer represent both the Asia Extreme and Tartan Video brands.

"The Tartan Video library is a remarkable line-up of films that have been recognized around the world as not only entertaining and inspiring, but thought-provoking as well. The titles represent another example of the ever increasing quality of content distributed by Genius through the expanded infrastructure we created to handle major titles from The Weinstein Company. With our newly implemented Vendor Managed Inventory system, we anticipate even greater success for Tartan's library," says Drinkwater.

"Our agreement allows us to expand our distribution reach with a partner whose product line complements our own. We believe our world-renowned independent films, critically acclaimed Asia Extreme catalog and future branded labels are a great match with Genius's already impressive catalog," adds Borg.