'PUSH' FILM CAUGHT IN STUDIO TUG-O-WAR: Lionsgate and Weinstein Co. sue each other over film rights.

Lionsgate and the Weinstein Co. [TWC] on Wednesday filed lawsuits against each other over the Sundance hit "Push," throwing into question who owns distribution rights to the urban drama directed by Lee Daniels.  In its suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Lionsgate claims that TWC does not have "any right, title or interest" in the picture, which won both the grand jury and audience drama prizes in Park City, and is seeking a judge's declaration to that effect. Lionsgate filed the suit, it argues in the complaint, because of "threatened litigation" on the part of TWC over theatrical rights to Lee Daniels' inner-city tale.Several hours after the announcement of Lionsgate's suit, Weinstein Co. reps said the company had filed its own suit against both Lionsgate and sales agent Cinetic Media for breach of contract and inducing breach of contract. TWC argues there was a contract in place for the New York company to buy the movie."TWC reached a firm agreement for the rights to "Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire.' Behind their backs Cinetic Media tried to make a better deal with Lionsgate. Lionsgate was well aware of the TWC contract but went forward anyway," said Bert Fields, who along with David Boies represents TWC. Typically in breach-of-contract cases, a plaintiff would either want the contract honored or, in its place, monetary compensation."Push: Based on the Novel by Sapphire," which tells the story of an illiterate, pregnant inner-city teen and her attempts to set her life right, stars Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Mo'Nique, Lenny Kravitz and Paula Patton. The story revolves around an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.The Weinstein Co. and Overture had been among the distributors circling the movie in the wake of its strong performance in Park City. Lionsgate eventually won rights to the film, it said in an announcement earlier this week, paying in the ballpark of $5 million for North American rights to the film and enlisting Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey as supporters. According to the Lionsgate suit, producers told Lionsgate that while there were discussions between producers and the Weinstein Co., no deal was made because parties couldn't come to terms over issues such as international rights and profit-sharing. The Weinstein Co., via its breach of contract suit, feels otherwise. SOURCE:EURWEB.COM