What exactly does this mean exactly? Well Criterion will be bringing IFC titles to Blu-ray here in the US. Among some of the first titles to see a release here in the US is the long anticipated Steven Soderbergh’s Che. Here’s the article from Screen Daily.

Under the terms of the deal, Criterion acquires the rights to distribute select IFC Films’ titles on DVD in the US and will release sell-through special editions of each film.

The partners have already lined up three films from Cannes 2008 – Arnaud Desplechin’s A Christmas Tale on November 10, Matteo Garrone Gomorrah on November 24, and Steven Soderbergh’s Che.

Upcoming 2010 releases include Jan Troell’s 2008 Golden Globe nominee Everlasting Moments, Olivier Assayas’ 2009 hit Summer Hours, Steve McQueen’s Hunger (pictured), Hirokazu Kore-Eda’s Still Walking, and Abdellatif Kechiche’s Cesar Award winner The Secret Of The Grain.

Criterion will also release special editions of films from IFC Films’ library including Alfonso Cuaron’s Y Tu Mama Tambien, and Christopher Nolan’s Following.

“From the inception of IFC Films, we modeled our acquisition strategy on Criterion’s but with the intent on focusing on the auteurs of today,” IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring said. “It’s a great honour and thrill for us to embark on this partnership with them. They are the golden seal of approval.”

Criterion’s Peter Becker added: “IFC Films has been on an incredible roll, hunting down daring international films and spotting film-makers whose work will stand the test of time. Criterion has always presented a mix of international classics and director-approved editions of important contemporary films, so this new slate of releases fits our mission perfectly.”

This is certainly good news, I can’t wait to see what Criterion does with some of these excellent films!