Ato Pictures Announces Participant Media’s ‘Last Call At The Oasis’ as Their Second Tiff Pick Up

Academy Award Winner Jessica Yu Directs Acclaimed New Doc

New York, NY (September 21, 2011) ATO Pictures announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to Participant Media’s acclaimed new film, LAST CALL AT THE OASIS directed by Academy Award winner Jessica Yu. The film recently premiered at TIFF to tremendous fanfare. Developed, financed and executive produced by Participant Media, the company responsible for such groundbreaking documentaries as AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, FOOD, INC. AND WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN”, LAST CALL AT THE OASIS, presents a powerful argument for why the global water crisis will be the central issue facing our world this century. Illuminating the vital role water plays in our lives, exposing the defects in the current system and depicting communities already struggling with its ill-effects, the film was produced by Elise Pearlstein (FOOD, INC.) and features activist Erin Brockovich and such distinguished experts as Peter Gleick, Alex Prud’homme, Jay Famiglietti and Robert Glennon. From ATO co-founders Johnathan Dorfman and Temple Fennell: “We could not be more proud to be working with Participant on this riveting, enthralling doc which we know will open people’s eyes to the severe calamity at hand. Audiences are in for an eye opening experience and Jessica has done a brilliant job illuminating this vital issue.” Ricky Strauss, President of Participant Media said, “We’re very excited to be teaming with ATO Pictures to bring Jessica’s bracing and beautifully-made wake-up call about the urgency of the water crisis to U.S. movie audiences along with the kind of robust social action and advocacy campaign for which Participant is known.” The deal was negotiated by ATO’s Head of Acquisitions Sarah Lash with Josh Braun of Submarine and Jeff Ivers, COO of Participant Media. ATO Pictures currently has the Sundance hit TERRI starring John C. Reilly in release. Additional titles on the company’s slate include: THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH (October 21^st) starring Ethan Hawke and Kristin Scott Thomas which premiered at TIFF last week, THIN ICE (2012) starring Greg Kinnear, Billy Crudup and Alan Arkin which the company acquired out of Sundance and THE MONK (2012), Dominik Moll’s gothic thriller starring Vincent Cassel. Participant Media is an entertainment company that focuses on documentary and non-documentary feature films, television, publishing and digital content about the real issues that shape our lives. For each of its projects, Participant creates social action and advocacy programs to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant’s online Social Action Network is TakePart (takepart.com). Founded by Chairman Jeff Skoll in 2004, Jim Berk serves as CEO and Ricky Strauss as President. Participant’s films include THE KITE RUNNER, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, THE VISITOR, FOOD, INC., THE COVE, THE CRAZIES, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO, WAITING FOR “SUPERMAN,” FAIR GAME, PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE HELP and CONTAGION.