Janson Media Acquires Worldwide Rights to Feature Documentary 'Crossing Borders'

Janson Media announced today that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Crossing Borders Films of the United Kingdom to release the powerful feature documentary film Crossing Borders to worldwide television, DVD, VOD, and New Media markets. Coming off a successful film festival run in 2010, Crossing Borders was screened at twelve international film festivals including the DocMiami International Film Festival, the Charlotte Film Festival, the Honolulu Film Festival, and the Atlanta International Documentary Festival. Among other awards, the film won &'Best Documentary&' at the Los Angeles Global Film Festival.

Crossing Borders follows four Moroccan and four American university students as they travel together through Morocco, and in the process of discovering 'the Other' discover themselves. With group travels and frank discussions, the students confront the complex implications of the supposed 'clash of civilizations' between Islam and the West. The relationships formed through shared experiences contrast sharply with the media-shaped views Americans and Muslims have of each other. Humor, honesty and a willingness to be challenged all bring individuals closer to each other and the relationships that develop disarm hidden stereotypes.

'With its longstanding relationships throughout the worldwide broadcast community, I believe that Janson Media is just the perfect partner to bring inspiring films with an intercultural vision to a wide audience,' said Arnd Wachter, director of Crossing Borders. 'We were astounded when we first screened Crossing Borders,' said Stephen Janson, president of Janson Media. 'We believe it is one of the most important films we have acquired in a long time, and one which has incredible relevance as we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and as we witness the potential of the Arab Spring to transform the Middle East.'

Crossing Borders was produced by the non-profit organization for intercultural education, Crossing Borders Education. Founded by Arnd Wachter, CB-Education has served more than 3,200 American college students on its exchange programs since 2003. CB-Education aims to give a personal face to the &'other side&' through the experiences of American students studying abroad and their interactions with students in the moderate Muslim state of Morocco.

Established in 1989, Janson Media is an independent film and television production and distribution company based in the United States, with a rights portfolio of over 1,500 hours of exclusive programming available for licensing to worldwide television, VOD, DVD/video, and emerging new media platforms. The company has licensed programming to virtually every country in the world, and its clients include nearly every major broadcaster or media company, as well as a wide range of DVD labels and distributors. Janson Media is also a publisher/ manufacturer of award-winning DVDs.