Universal has struck a five-year agreement with the independent film producer Media Rights Capital to distribute their films, the companies announced today.
The agreement to release 20 films over the next five years expands a collaboration between the two companies, 
which partnered on such films as ‘Bruno’ and ‘The Adjustment Bureau.’
The distribution agreement will begin in 2011.
In a statement, Universal Pictures chairman Adam Fogelson recognized the quality of MRC’s films. “We’ve been continually impressed with the quality of talent that MRC brings to the table,” he said. “By leveraging our strong marketing and distribution operations we can augment our own slate and expand our relationship with MRC, bringing more value to Universal.”
MRC, led by Modi Wizcyk and Asif Satchu, tried to buy Focus Features from Universal earlier this year, but were unable to close the deal .
The company has numerous high-profile projects underway, including a Seth MacFarlane comedy, ‘Ted,’ the next proejct by ‘District 9’ director Neill Blomkamp; Ben Stiller and Red Hour’s 30 Minutes or Less to be directed by Ruben Fleischer; and ‘The Night Chronicles,’ a three film series with M. Night Shyamalan.
Their television projects include “The Ricky Gervais Show” and a second season of “The Life and Times of Tim” for HBO; a second season of “Shaq Vs.” for ABC; David Fincher’s upcoming “House of Cards”; and Ternion Animated, a production company created to develop new animated series.
MRC’s digital projects include Seth MacFarlane’s “Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy,” which was also released on DVD and “Mommycast.”
See also: Universal Rejects Bid by Media Rights Capital to Buy Focus
The news release follows:
Media Rights Capital (MRC), the independent film, television and digital studio, and Universal Pictures today announced an agreement under which Universal will distribute twenty MRC films in five years beginning in 2011. This expansion deepens the relationship between the two studios and guarantees major studio marketing and distribution for MRC Films.
Under the agreement, Universal will release 20 MRC films over five years in the US and the two companies will also have the opportunity to partner worldwide. The joint venture will not prevent MRC from pre-selling films domestically and on a worldwide basis.
“MRC has always had the ability to greenlight and fully finance our films. With this deal, we now have another powerful tool for our artist partners, providing them with automatic access to the marketing and distribution expertise of a major studio,” said MRC Co-CEO Modi Wiczyk. “Adam, Donna, Rick, Jimmy, David and the entire Universal team have proven time and again to be great partners and we are excited about the opportunities this new venture will provide.”
“We’ve been continually impressed with the quality of talent that MRC brings to the table,” said Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson. “By leveraging our strong marketing and distribution operations we can augment our own slate and expand our relationship with MRC, bringing more value to Universal.”
Universal will continue to produce and distribute the same amount of films each year.
Universal and MRC have previously collaborated on Sacha Baron Cohen’s Bruno and are set to release The Adjustment Bureau, written and directed by George Nolfi and starring Matt Damon, and the M. Night Shyamalan horror thriller, Devil. Universal released Ricky Gervais’ Invention of Lying internationally for MRC and recently acquired their live action and C-G comedy Ted, written and directed by Seth MacFarlane.
