Australia's leading independent DVD distributor Madman Entertainment are proud to announce the acquisition of several key titles by leading American director Jim Jarmusch. The acclaimed director is noted for his ironic wit, laconic style, and his gorgeous black-and-white photography, characterised by such noted works as "Down by Law" (Official Selection -Cannes 1986) and "Dead Man" (Nominated - Golden Palm, Cannes 1995) that starred Johnny Depp and the late Robert Mitchum.

This stylish, worldly, and thoroughly hip collection of American Independent Films from the legendary director will commence DVD distribution into the Australian Home Entertainment market, via Madman's Director's Suite imprint in June 2005.

The first release of the collection will be the double disc edition of Jarmusch's cult classic 'Down by Law' starring Roberto Benigni (Life is Beautiful) , Ellen Barkin (Sea of Love) and renowned musician Tom Waits.

Complete with a new high definition transfer supervised by Jarmusch himself, the double disc set will feature a 'Thoughts & Reflections by Jim Jarmusch' segment, a new interview with director of photography Robby Mueller (Paris, Texas) A Cannes Film Festival press conference with Jarmusch and stars John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, and Nicoletta Braschi, and a music video of Tom Waits directed by Jarmusch, plus outtakes , Jarmusch's phone calls to the cast, and more!

Jim Jarmusch lives and works in New York. After his first feature, which gained a cult as well as a critical following in Europe, Jarmusch made Stranger Than Paradise which won the Camera dor (Cannes, 1984) and was voted Best Picture of the Year by the National Society of Film Critics (USA, 1985). His third feature, Down By Law (1986), was selected for the main competition of the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, received many foreign film awards and remains in theatrical distribution worldwide. Mystery Train , starring the late Screaming Jay Hawkins and Joe Strummer won the Prize for Best Artistic Contribution in Cannes 1989. Night on Earth (1991) was collection of five stories involving cab drivers in five different cities- LA, New York, Paris, Rome, and Helsinki starring Benigni and Winona Ryder, whilst 1995's Dead Man starring Johnny Depp was briefly banned in Australia before going on to receive a string of critical plaudits all over the country.

All these acclaimed features will be released as part of Madman's Jarmusch Collection, through their 'Director's Suite" imprint in 2005.

Down by Law : June 15 2005
Dead Man : July 2005
Permanent Vacation : July 2005
Stranger than Paradise : date tba
Mystery Train :date tba
Night on Earth : date tba