Peace Arch Entertainment
A defunct Canadian film, television, and home-entertainment company that produced, acquired, and distributed content for international markets.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Peace Arch Entertainment was a Canadian motion-picture and television company based in Toronto, Ontario, with additional offices in Vancouver and Los Angeles. The business operated across production, acquisition, home entertainment, and worldwide distribution, placing it within the independent film and television sector rather than the large vertically integrated Hollywood studio system. Its activities included developing and producing feature films and television programs, acquiring rights to completed projects, and distributing content through home-video and other international channels. The company began in 1981 under the name Medco as a home-entertainment distributor. In 1985 it adopted the name Vidatron Entertainment and became a public company. The business later expanded beyond distribution and into the development of original film and television projects. In 1997, it acquired Sugar Entertainment, adding to its production and content capabilities. The corporate identity changed again in 1999, when Vidatron was renamed Peace Arch Entertainment. The name referred to the Peace Arch monument on the Canada–United States border near Blaine, Washington, a symbol the company associated with cross-border cooperation and an open relationship between the two countries. During the 2000s, Peace Arch pursued a broader content and distribution strategy. Its film-related credits included independent and internationally oriented projects such as What We Do Is Secret, JCVD, Winged Creatures, Delirious, The Infidel, Flick, Kandahar Break, Who Killed Nancy?, Winky's Horse, and The Keeper. Its television work included The Immortal, Big Sound, and Animal Miracles. The company also sought to strengthen its home-video operations: in 2006 it announced an agreement to acquire children's home-video distributor Kaboom! Entertainment for $8.5 million, and in 2007 it announced the planned acquisition of Los Angeles-based home-video distributor Trinity Home Entertainment. In 2009, Peace Arch separated its home-video division and the Kaboom! business into Phase 4 Films. Phase 4 Films was founded by Berry Meyerowitz and subsequently became part of Entertainment One in 2014. The separation marked a significant restructuring of Peace Arch's distribution activities and left the company more focused on its remaining film and television interests. Peace Arch Entertainment filed for bankruptcy on May 16, 2013, after which it was disestablished. It is therefore no longer an operating brand, and its former website is not treated as an active corporate source.
History
Peace Arch Entertainment originated in 1981 as Medco, a Canadian home-entertainment distributor. The company changed its name to Vidatron Entertainment in 1985 and became publicly traded at that stage. Its early business was centered on the distribution of home-entertainment material, but it progressively expanded into the acquisition, development, production, and international distribution of film and television content. In 1997, Vidatron acquired Sugar Entertainment. Two years later, in 1999, the company adopted the Peace Arch Entertainment name. The new identity was inspired by the Peace Arch monument on the Canada–United States border near Blaine, Washington. The company used the monument's cross-border symbolism to express its ambition to connect Canadian and American entertainment businesses and to distribute programming internationally. Its operating footprint included Toronto, Vancouver, and Los Angeles. The renamed company developed a portfolio of independent films and television programs. Its film credits included The Keeper, Winky's Horse, Delirious, What We Do Is Secret, JCVD, Winged Creatures, 305, The Infidel, Flick, Kandahar Break, and Who Killed Nancy? Its television credits included The Immortal, Big Sound, and Animal Miracles. These projects reflected a mixed slate spanning scripted television, documentary or factual programming, family-oriented content, and independent feature films. Peace Arch also attempted to build scale in home entertainment through acquisitions. In 2006, it announced the acquisition of Kaboom! Entertainment, a children's home-video distributor, for $8.5 million. In 2007, it announced the acquisition of Trinity Home Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based home-video distributor. The transactions were intended to broaden the company's catalog and distribution reach, particularly in North American home entertainment. In 2009, Peace Arch spun off its home-video division and its Kaboom! subsidiary to create Phase 4 Films. Berry Meyerowitz founded Phase 4 Films, which later became part of Entertainment One in 2014. The separation reorganized Peace Arch's business and reduced the scope of its direct home-video operations. Peace Arch continued as a film and television company for several more years, but it filed for bankruptcy on May 16, 2013. The company was subsequently disestablished and is now a historical, defunct entertainment entity rather than an active production or distribution business.
- 2013
Bankruptcy and disestablishment
[1]Peace Arch Entertainment filed for bankruptcy on May 16 and was subsequently disestablished.
- 2009
Home-video division separated into Phase 4 Films
[1]Peace Arch spun off its home-video division and Kaboom! Entertainment into Phase 4 Films.
- 2007
Trinity Home Entertainment acquisition announced
[1]The company announced plans to acquire Los Angeles-based home-video distributor Trinity Home Entertainment.
- 2006
Kaboom! acquisition announced
[1]Peace Arch announced plans to acquire children's home-video distributor Kaboom! Entertainment for $8.5 million.
- 1999
Peace Arch Entertainment identity adopted
[1]Vidatron changed its name to Peace Arch Entertainment and continued developing film and television projects.
- 1997
Acquisition of Sugar Entertainment
[1]Vidatron acquired Sugar Entertainment as part of its expansion into broader entertainment activities.
- 1985
Renamed Vidatron Entertainment
[1]Medco adopted the Vidatron Entertainment name and became a public company.
- 1981
Company founded as Medco
[1]The business began in Canada as Medco, initially operating as a home-entertainment distributor.
Products and positioning
An independent Canadian producer, content acquirer, and international distributor focused on feature films, television programming, and home entertainment.
Film
Feature film production and distribution
Peace Arch produced, acquired, and distributed independent feature films for Canadian, United States, and international markets. Its credited film slate included projects such as JCVD, What We Do Is Secret, Winged Creatures, Delirious, The Infidel, Flick, Kandahar Break, Who Killed Nancy?, Winky's Horse, and The Keeper.
Television
Television programming
The company developed and produced television programming across scripted and factual or family-oriented formats. Its listed series included The Immortal, Big Sound, and Animal Miracles, reflecting a broader television strategy alongside its feature-film activities.
Home entertainment · 1981
Home-entertainment distribution
Home entertainment was the company's original business area and remained an important part of its strategy during the 2000s. Peace Arch expanded this activity through the announced Kaboom! Entertainment and Trinity Home Entertainment transactions before separating its home-video operations into Phase 4 Films in 2009.
Brand decisions
2013
Bankruptcy filingOtherBackground
After operating as a Canadian independent film and television company, Peace Arch entered insolvency proceedings.
Action taken
The company filed for bankruptcy on May 16, 2013.
Aftermath
Peace Arch Entertainment was disestablished and ceased operating as an active company.
2009
Spin-off of home-video operationsStrategyBackground
The company reorganized its distribution activities after expanding through home-video acquisitions.
Action taken
Peace Arch separated its home-video division and Kaboom! Entertainment into Phase 4 Films.
Aftermath
Phase 4 Films continued independently and was later acquired by Entertainment One in 2014, while Peace Arch retained its remaining film and television business until its bankruptcy and disestablishment.
2007
Planned acquisition of Trinity Home EntertainmentM&ABackground
Peace Arch pursued greater scale in North American home-video distribution.
Action taken
The company announced plans to acquire Los Angeles-based distributor Trinity Home Entertainment.
Aftermath
The later restructuring of the home-video division culminated in its separation into Phase 4 Films.
2006
Planned acquisition of Kaboom! EntertainmentM&ABackground
Peace Arch sought to expand its children's home-video distribution activities and catalog.
Action taken
The company announced an acquisition of Kaboom! Entertainment for $8.5 million.
Aftermath
Kaboom! later formed part of the home-video operations separated into Phase 4 Films in 2009.
announced acquisition value. $8.5 million (2006 announcement)
Recent events
- 2013
Peace Arch Entertainment files for bankruptcy[1]
Bankruptcy
Peace Arch filed for bankruptcy on May 16, 2013, and the company was subsequently disestablished.
- 2009
Home-video operations spun off into Phase 4 Films[1]
M&A
Peace Arch separated its home-video division and subsidiary Kaboom! Entertainment to establish Phase 4 Films.
- 2007
Peace Arch announces acquisition of Trinity Home Entertainment[1]
M&A
The company announced a planned acquisition of Los Angeles-based home-video distributor Trinity Home Entertainment as part of its distribution expansion.
- 2006
Peace Arch Entertainment announces acquisition of Kaboom! Entertainment[1]
M&A
Peace Arch announced that it would acquire children's home-video distributor Kaboom! Entertainment for $8.5 million.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/peace-arch-entertainment · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled