Miramax (formerly
Miramax Films) is an American entertainment company known for distributing
independent and
foreign films headquartered in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1979 by
Bob and
Harvey Weinstein, Miramax was a leading independent film motion picture distribution and production company before it was acquired by
The Walt Disney Company on June 30, 1993. Shortly thereafter,
Pulp Fiction was released. The Weinsteins operated Miramax with more creative and financial independence than any other division of Disney, until September 30, 2005 when they decided to leave the company and founded
The Weinstein Company. Miramax was sold by Disney to
Filmyard Holdings, a joint venture of
Colony Capital,
Tutor-Saliba Corporation, and
Qatar Investment Authority, in 2010, ending Disney's 17-year involvement with the studio.