Kino Lorber is an international film distribution company based in New York City. Founded in 1977, it was originally known as Kino International until it was acquired by and merged into Lorber HT Digital in 2009. It specializes in art house films, such as documentary films, classic films from earlier periods in the history of cinema, and world cinema. In addition to theatrical distribution, Kino Lorber releases films in the home entertainment market and has its own streaming services for its digital library. History 1977–2008; Founding as Kino International Kino Lorber was founded as Kino International in 1977 by Bill Pence. It was then purchased by Donald Krim who at the time worked for United Artists as the head of the nontheatrical department. It began by importing and releasing international films that may have not otherwise reached the market in the United States. One of the first films imported under Krim was Ballad of Orin. In 1977, the company acquired rights to the Janus film collection, which became the foundation for its international library of films. Kino International was responsible for the theatrical release of films by Charlie Chaplin beginning in 1977. The Chaplin films became the foundation of a silent film collection for Kino International including the 1927 sci-fi film Metropolis. By 1989, American classics accounted for 80 percent of the company's distributions, with the other 20 percent made up of international films. 2009–present; Merger with Lorber HT Digital In 2009, Kino International was acquired by Lorber HT Digital to form Kino Lorber. Kino Lorber launched its "Kino Lorber Studio Classics" line of films in 2014. Its licensing deal with MGM allowed them access to MGM's library of remastered and high-definition films. It released approximately 40 films by the end of 2014, including the Billy Wilder films Witness for the Prosecution and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. In 2017, Kino Lorber entered into a partnership with Zeitgeist Films to co-acquire films for theatrical release and taking over home entertainment distribution of their library. In 2019, Kino Lorber launched a digital streaming service known as "Kino Now." Described as an "arthouse iTunes," it allows the purchase and rentals of films in its distribution library. During the COVID-19 pandemic lock-downs in 2019, Kino Lorber launched an online distribution service to stream new films in partnership with closed theaters. Known as "Kino Marquee," the service was seen as a way to