Mandalay Pictures
Mandalay Pictures is an American independent film production company founded by Peter Guber in 1995 and operating within the Mandalay Entertainment group.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Mandalay Pictures is an American independent film production company established on May 27, 1995, as part of Peter Guber's broader Mandalay Entertainment group. Guber, a former head of Sony Pictures Entertainment and former partner in The Guber-Peters Company, created Mandalay as a diversified entertainment enterprise, with the Pictures division focused on the development and production of feature films and related screen projects. The company is associated with an independent-production model in which it develops or co-develops projects while relying on larger studios, distributors, sales agents, and regional partners for financing, distribution, and international exploitation. At launch, Mandalay Pictures entered into an exclusive film and television arrangement with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Sony distributed the company's films principally through the Columbia and TriStar labels in many territories. Mandalay also worked with Summit Entertainment as an international sales representative. Through that relationship, the company arranged regional output and distribution relationships involving partners in the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Germany, Austria, South Korea, Spain, and Italy. These arrangements illustrate Mandalay's early emphasis on assembling international distribution networks rather than maintaining a fully integrated worldwide theatrical infrastructure of its own. The company changed its studio relationships during the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1998, it moved its principal studio relationship from Sony Pictures to Paramount Pictures. Around the same time, Mandalay entered a partnership with Lions Gate Entertainment connected to the acquisition of Mandalay Entertainment assets. Lions Gate held an interest in Mandalay Pictures from 1997 until 2002, when that interest was sold and the relationship was separated. In 1998, Mandalay also entered a distribution arrangement with C+P, the Canal+ and Pathé joint venture, for the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium/Luxembourg. In 2002, the company's studio arrangement moved from Paramount to Universal Pictures. That year also saw the creation of an international sales division, expanding Mandalay's role in arranging overseas exploitation of its projects. The company's operating history has consequently involved a succession of relationships with major Hollywood studios, independent distributors, and territory-specific sales organizations rather than a single permanent distribution partner. Mandalay's production leadership changed during its first decade. Todd Black served as an early production head, working alongside Jason Blumenthal, who was a senior production executive. Both left in 1998 and subsequently established Black & Blu at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Ori Marmur later departed Mandalay in 2004 for Original Film. In 2007, the company broadened its creative structure by launching Mandalay Independent Pictures, a division intended to concentrate on independent films. The division was later renamed Mandalay Vision, and Matthew Rhodes became its president in 2011. The company's brand identity includes a tiger mascot, reflecting the Mandalay name and its broader entertainment-group branding. Mandalay Pictures' principal business is the creation and packaging of film projects, with theatrical, direct-to-video, and streaming releases represented in its production activities. Its history demonstrates how an independent film label can operate through changing studio alliances, international sales partnerships, specialized production divisions, and corporate relationships while remaining part of a larger entertainment group.
History
Mandalay Pictures was founded on May 27, 1995, alongside the formation of Mandalay Entertainment by Peter Guber. Guber had previously led Sony Pictures Entertainment and had been associated with The Guber-Peters Company. Mandalay Pictures was established as the group's film-production arm, with the objective of developing and producing feature-film projects while using outside studio and distribution partners to bring those projects to audiences. The company's initial arrangement was an exclusive film and television deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Sony handled releases primarily through its Columbia and TriStar labels in many countries. Mandalay also worked with Summit Entertainment as a foreign sales agent. That relationship helped arrange regional output and distribution agreements with companies serving the United Kingdom and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Greece, Germany and Austria, South Korea, Spain, and Italy. The structure gave Mandalay access to international markets without requiring the company to build its own global distribution network. Mandalay's early production operation was led by Todd Black, who served as its initial production head. Jason Blumenthal joined him as a senior vice president of production. Black and Blumenthal left Mandalay in 1998 and formed Black & Blu at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Their departures were part of a period in which Mandalay changed both its internal leadership and its external studio relationships. In 1997, Lions Gate Entertainment acquired an interest in Mandalay Pictures. In 1998, Mandalay moved its studio relationship from Sony Pictures to Paramount Pictures. It also entered into a partnership with Lions Gate relating to the acquisition of Mandalay Entertainment assets; the television division was not included in that arrangement and remained with Columbia TriStar Television. Later in 1998, Mandalay agreed to work with C+P, a Canal+ and Pathé joint venture, on distribution in the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium/Luxembourg. The Paramount arrangement was transferred to Universal Pictures in 2002. Mandalay also established an international sales division during that year. In November 2002, the company was separated from Lions Gate, ending the period in which Lions Gate held an interest in the film operation. The company's distribution history therefore moved through multiple Hollywood studio relationships and independent international sales arrangements rather than remaining tied to one distributor. Mandalay experienced further personnel changes in the following years. Ori Marmur left in 2004 and joined Original Film. In 2007, Mandalay established Mandalay Independent Pictures as a division focused on independent films. The division was renamed Mandalay Vision in 2010, and Matthew Rhodes became its president in 2011. Mandalay Pictures' output has included theatrical films as well as direct-to-video and streaming projects. The company is identified with the Mandalay Entertainment group and uses a tiger as its mascot. Its development reflects the flexible structure of an independent production company: creative projects are organized under a recognizable label, while financing, sales, theatrical distribution, home entertainment, and international release may be handled through changing external partners. The available reference material does not establish a complete current filmography, present headquarters, current executive roster, or a separate public corporate listing for Mandalay Pictures.
- 2011
Matthew Rhodes appointed president of Mandalay Vision
[1]Matthew Rhodes takes leadership of the group's independent-film division.
- 2010
Independent division renamed Mandalay Vision
[1]Mandalay Independent Pictures adopts the Mandalay Vision name.
- 2007
Mandalay Independent Pictures launches
[1]The company creates a division dedicated to independent-film production.
- 2002
Transfer to Universal Pictures
[1]The company's studio arrangement moves from Paramount Pictures to Universal Pictures.
- 2002
International sales division begins
[1]Mandalay launches an international sales division.
- 2002
Separation from Lions Gate
[1]Mandalay is separated from Lions Gate, ending Lions Gate's stake in the company.
- 1998
Move to Paramount Pictures
[1]Mandalay transfers its principal studio relationship from Sony Pictures to Paramount Pictures.
- 1998
C+P distribution agreement
[1]C+P agrees to distribute Mandalay films in the United Kingdom, France, and Belgium/Luxembourg.
- 1997
Lions Gate acquires an interest
[1]Lions Gate Entertainment takes a stake in Mandalay Pictures.
- 1995
Mandalay Pictures is founded
[1]Peter Guber establishes Mandalay Pictures alongside Mandalay Entertainment as the group's film-production operation.
Products and positioning
An independent film-production label within the Mandalay Entertainment group, positioned around developing and packaging feature-film projects and working with major studios, international sales agents, and territory distributors for release.
Film production · 1995
Theatrical feature films
Mandalay Pictures develops and produces feature films intended for theatrical release. Its operating model has historically depended on studio distribution and regional partners, including Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, and international sales organizations.
Independent film production · 2007
Independent films
Independent-film production became a dedicated area of activity through Mandalay Independent Pictures, launched in 2007 and later renamed Mandalay Vision. The division was intended to develop projects outside the company's mainstream studio-oriented production structure.
Film production
Direct-to-video and streaming films
The company's documented output categories include films released directly to video and films distributed through streaming channels. The available reference does not provide a complete list of titles or a separate current label structure for these releases.
Film sales and distribution · 2002
International film sales
Mandalay established an international sales division in 2002. Earlier, it used Summit Entertainment as a foreign sales agent and worked through territory-specific distribution partners to place its films in overseas markets.
Brand decisions
2010
Rename independent-film division as Mandalay VisionStrategyBackground
Mandalay reorganized the identity of its specialized independent-film operation.
Action taken
Mandalay Independent Pictures became Mandalay Vision.
Aftermath
Matthew Rhodes was appointed president of the renamed division in 2011.
2007
Creation of Mandalay Independent PicturesStrategyBackground
Mandalay sought a dedicated structure for projects made within the independent-film sector.
Action taken
The company launched Mandalay Independent Pictures as a specialized division.
Aftermath
The division was renamed Mandalay Vision in 2010 and received dedicated leadership under Matthew Rhodes in 2011.
2002
Transfer to Universal Pictures and creation of international sales divisionStrategyBackground
Mandalay changed its major studio relationship again and sought a more direct role in international exploitation.
Action taken
The studio arrangement moved from Paramount Pictures to Universal Pictures, and Mandalay launched an international sales division.
Aftermath
The change reinforced Mandalay's position as an independent producer working through multiple distribution and sales channels.
1998
Move from Sony Pictures to Paramount PicturesStrategyBackground
Mandalay's initial exclusive relationship with Sony Pictures was replaced by a studio arrangement with Paramount Pictures.
Action taken
The company transferred its principal studio relationship to Paramount while continuing to use separate international distribution arrangements.
Aftermath
The Paramount relationship later gave way to an arrangement with Universal Pictures in 2002.
Recent events
- 2011
Matthew Rhodes appointed president of Mandalay Vision[1]
Leadership change
Matthew Rhodes was appointed president of Mandalay Vision, the group's independent-film division.
- 2010
Mandalay Independent Pictures becomes Mandalay Vision[1]
Other
The independent-film division adopted the Mandalay Vision name as the group refined its specialized production structure.
- 2007
Mandalay launches an independent-film division[1]
Product launch
Mandalay created Mandalay Independent Pictures to focus specifically on independent films.
- 2002
Mandalay Pictures launches an international sales division[1]
Other
After transferring its studio arrangement from Paramount Pictures to Universal Pictures, Mandalay launched an international sales division.
- 2002
Mandalay Pictures separates from Lions Gate[1]
M&A
The relationship between Mandalay Pictures and Lions Gate Entertainment ended, and Lions Gate's interest in Mandalay Pictures was sold.
- 1998
Mandalay Pictures shifts its studio relationship to Paramount[1]
Other
Mandalay moved its principal studio arrangement from Sony Pictures to Paramount Pictures and entered a separate distribution agreement covering several European territories.
- 1997
Lions Gate takes an interest in Mandalay Pictures[1]
M&A
Lions Gate Entertainment held a stake in Mandalay Pictures from 1997 until 2002 as part of a wider relationship involving Mandalay Entertainment assets.
- 1995
Mandalay Pictures forms an exclusive relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment[1]
Other
At its formation, Mandalay Pictures entered an exclusive film and television arrangement with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which distributed projects through the Columbia and TriStar labels in many markets.
Sources1 sources
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