Acquisitions/Festival

  • Acquisitions
  • Film Festivals
    • Monday, January 30th, 2012

    SnagFilms Gets Digital Rights To Rwanda Drama

    SnagFilms has acquired exclusive digital rights to “Kinyarwanda,” which won the world cinema dramatic audience award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where it had its premiere. The film will debut via SnagFilms partners such as Comcast Xfinity, FiOS, DIRECTV, iTunes, Amazon and VUDU. Alrick Brown wrote and directed the fact-based film, which follows six different storylines of people struggling through the Rwandan genocide. Darren Dean and Tommy Oliver produced.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/snagfilms-sundance-kinyarwanda-285918

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    Monday, January 30th, 2012

    Outsider Wants A Piece Of “Juan Of The Dead”

    Outsider Pictures today announced the acquisition of the international hit “Juan of The Dead,” from Guadalajara-based international film sales and distribution company Latinofusion, for US theatrical distribution in the United States. The deal was announced via the Industry Office of the 29th annual Miami International Film Festival (MIFF), produced and presented by Miami Dade College (MDC). “Juan of the Dead” will be screened as part of MIFF’s Gala series at the upcoming Festival, March 2 – 11, 2012, and will be the first theatrical screening of the film under the Outsider Pictures banner. After zombies take over Havana, Juan (Díaz de Villegas) and his friends decide to conquer the marauding undead, reported by the government as being unruly Americans continuing their quest of undermining the regime. Alejandro Brugués’ directed.

    http://www.miamifilmfestival.com/

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    TWC Decides It Has A “Favorite” At Sundance, After All

    “Lay the Favorite,” a fact-based comedy about a private dancer who becomes a player in the world of high-stakes gambling, has sold to the Weinstein Co. A source pegs the deal at a little over $2 million. The film, which receive a tepid response from critics at the festival, was directed by Oscar-nominated Stephen Frears (“The Queen”) and stars Bruce Willis, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Joshua Jackson, Laura Prepon, Rebecca Hall and Vince Vaughn.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/sundance-2012-lay-favorite-bruce-willis-catherine-zeta-jones-283852

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Sundance Winners! We Got Your Sundance Winners Here!

    It was a fait accompli pretty much from minute one. No other film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival got as much buzz as 29-year-old first-time feature-length filmmaker Benh Zeitlin’s “Beasts Of The Southern Wild,” a mythical film about a 6-year-old girl who lives in a southern Delta community at the edge of the world (read our review here). And so it was no surprise that the film won the jury prize for best drama (and cinematography) at Saturday’s Sundance awards ceremony. Eugene Jarecki’s “The House I Live In,” an all-encompassing chronicle on the losing American war on drugs, won the documentary prize. “The Surrogate,” starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and Wiliam H. Macy, won the audience award for best drama. The audience award for best documentary went to “The Invisible War,” a film about the unreported world of sexual assault in the U.S. military. Complete list of winners at IndieWire.

    http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/beasts-of-the-southern-wild-tops-the-sundance-film-festival-awards

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    “2 Days In New York” Makes It A Trifecta For Magnolia

    Magnolia Pictures has acquired Julie Delpy’s “2 Days In New York,” the follow-up to “2 Days in Paris.” Starring Delpy and Chris Rock, the two play a Manhattanite couple with two kids who have to endure a two-day visit from relatives that will test their relationship. CAA negotiated the domestic rights with Rezo handling international.

     http://www.indiewire.com/article/magnolia-buys-2-days-in-new-york

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    That Controversial “Compliance” Flick Also Goes To Magnolia

    Magnolia continues to make buys, the latest being the acquisition of Craig Zobel’s “Compliance.” The NEXT section entry based on true events follows Sandra (Ann Dowd), an overworked manager at a fast food restaurant, who receives a call from a police officer accusing one of her employees of stealing from a customer; thus setting into motion a nightmarish scenario that quickly spirals out of control. Magnolia released Zobel’s previous film, “The Great World of Sound.”

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/magnolia-buys-u-s-rights-to-compliance

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    And, The Truth Is, “Nobody Walks” With Magnolia

    Magnolia Pictures has acquired distribution rights to Ry Russo Young’s “Nobody Walks,” which is screening in competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The deal was brokered by Submarine, which has been having a very successful Sundance thus far. A source confirmed a mid-six figure deal, and that multiple distributors had been interested in the film, which stars Olivia Thirlby, John Krasinski and Rosemarie DeWitt.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/magnolia-pictures-takes-sundances-nobody-walks

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    The Buying Parade At Sundance Continues With “Shadow Dancer”

    ATO Pictures has picked up North American rights to James Marsh’s “Shadow Dancer,” which is currently screening at the Sundance Film Festival. Starring Andrea Riseborough, Clive Owen and Gillian Anderson, the narrative film is Marsh’s follow-up to acclaimed docs “Project Nim” and “Man on Wire.” Sarah Lash, ATO’s Head of Acquisitions negotiated the deal with CAA who brokered it on behalf of the producers.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/ato-pictures-acquires-marshs-shadow-dancer

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    MOMA’s Director’s Fortnight To Get Underway In Style

    The Museum of Modern Art has announced its 11th annual Documentary Fortnight festival will be opening on February 16th with film archivist Jim Hubbard’s “United in Anger: A History of ACT UP” and Tatiana Huezo Sanchez’s “The Tiniest Place.” Hubbard and Sanchez will both be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A sessions. Special events include a retrospective for Paper Tiger Television with two screenings of “Paper Tiger Television: Thirty Years of Alternative Media” on February 24 & 25th and two “Guided Tours to the Interactive Documentary” on February 18th. Off-site special events include two screenings of D.A. Pennebaker’s “Elizabeth and Mary” at Nitehawk Cinema in Greenpoint and Williamsburg on February 21st.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/momas-documentary-fortnight-to-open-with-united-in-anger-and-the-tiniest-places

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    Sunday, January 29th, 2012

    Highly Touted Canadian Gambling Flick To Make American Debut

    Canadian-produced feature “High Chicago” is set to make it USA premiere; and it will do so at the upcoming Pan African Film Festival which begins February 9th. Film stars black British thespian Colin Salmon, and is directed by Alfons Adetuyi, his feature film directorial debut; though Adetuyi is no stranger to the cinema, as he’s worked primarily as a producer and director of TV and documentaries in Canada. Karen LeBlanc, Fulvio Cecere, Rob De Leeuw, John Robinson, and Sebastian Pigott round out the starring cast.

    http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/nice-high-stakes-gambling-drama-high-chicago-to-make-usa-debut-at-pan-african-film-fest

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    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    IFC Films Goes Back To College For A “Liberal Arts” Degree

    IFC Films has taken North American rights to Josh Radnor’s “Liberal Arts,” which debuted in the Premieres section of the Sundance Film Festival this past weekend. In the film, bookish and newly single Jesse Fisher, played by Radnor, returns to his alma mater for his favorite professor’s retirement dinner. A chance meeting with Elizabeth Olsen’s Zibby – a precocious classical music-loving sophomore – awakens in him long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/ifc-takes-sundances-liberal-arts

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    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    IFC Midnight Signed “The Pact”

    Hours after IFC Films acquired Josh Radnor’s “Liberal Arts,” IFC Midnight has purchased North American rights to Midnight section fave “The Pact.” Based on director Nicholas McCarthy’s 2011 Sundance short of the same title, McCarthy’s debut feature is a haunted-house tale about a young girl who returne home to attend her much-despised mother’s funeral. The film also stars Casper Van Dien, Haley Hudson, Kathleen Rose Perkins, Sam Ball, and Agnes Bruckner.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/ifc-nabs-haunted-house-thriller-the-pact

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    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    Magnolia Pictures Decides To Ditch Technology And Go Back To “V/H/S”

    Magnolia Pictures has bought the North American rights to Sundance Midnight entry “V/H/S.” A “found footage” anthology of twisted tales all recorded on VHS tapes a group of robbers watch during a robbery, the shorts were directed by Adam Wingard, Glenn McQuiad, Radio Silence, David Bruckner, Joe Swamberg and Ti West.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/magnolia-gets-v-h-s

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    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    If The Folks At Entertainment One “Wish You Where Here,” They Bring You Here

    Entertainment One has announced that they’ve bought North American rights to Kieran Darcy-Smith’s “Wish You Were Here.” Starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Price, the Australian film was one of the titles that played opening night this year. It’s a psychological thriller that follows four friends who lose themselves after a trip to South East Asia.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/entertainment-one-acquires-wish-you-were-here

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    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    IFC Is Getting To Know “Simon Killer” Better

    IFC is in final negotiations to acquire Antonio Campos’ “Simon Killer,” according to a source close to the deal. “Simon Killer” stars Brady Corbet as a heartbroken American college grad who visits Paris after breaking up with his girlfriend of five years. He quickly falls in love with a young prostitute, but that might not be enough to settle his personal issues.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/ifc-takes-on-simon-killer

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    Thursday, January 26th, 2012

    Sundance Selects Is Interested In Knowing “How To Survive A Plague”

    Sundance Selects has acquired the North American rights to David France’s documentary “How To Survive A Plague.”  The film follows a group of mostly HIV-positive young men and women who took on Washington through two coalitions – ACT UP and TAG (Treatment Action Group) – and whose activism turned AIDS from a death sentence into a manageable condition.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/sundance-selects-buys-how-to-survive-a-plague

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    Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

    Anderson Silva Documentary “Like Water,” Introduces The Spider To The World

    “Like Water,” a documentary about Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champ Anderson Silva, will be distributed in North America by Cinedigm, the company said Wednesday. First-time filmmaker Pablo Croce won best new documentary director at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival for the movie. Silva is the longest-reigning UFC middleweight champion and is considered one of the best mixed martial arts fighters ever. The documentary shows Silva’s life leading up to his win over Chael Sonnen. It also offers a surprising look at his life in Brazil with his wife, three sons and two daughters and his training in Los Angeles. Lionsgate will handle domestic ancillary distribution.

    http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/anderson-silva-documentary-goes-cinedigm-34777

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    Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

    Sundance Latest: “Robot & Frank” Gets Picked Up

    Jake Schreier’s “Robot & Frank,” which stars Frank Langella as an old man with a declining memory who befriends a robot, has been picked up by Sony Pictures Worldwide and Samuel Goldwyn Films. Set in the near future, Frank (Frank Langella) a retired jewel thief gets a new lease on life when he is introduced to a surprising new companion. With the help of his new friend, he attempts to woo a local librarian (Susan Sarandon) and resume his criminal escapades. “Robot & Frank” is directed by first time filmmaker Jake Schreier, written by Christopher Ford, and produced by Galt Niederhoffer, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman Bisbee and Lance Acord. “Robot & Frank” is Park Pictures Features’ first film.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/sony-and-samuel-goldwyn-will-partner-on-sundance-crowdpleaser-robot-frank

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    Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

    Stephanie Allain Takes Up Director Mantle For LA Fest

    Film Independent has announced that Stephanie Allain will succeed Rebecca Yeldham as the Festival Director of the Los Angeles Film Festival. She will start immediately, and join a team that includes Festival Managing Director Gloria Campbell and Festival Artistic Director David Ansen, as well as Associate Director of Programming Doug Jones, Senior Programmer Maggie Mackay and Programming Coordinator Jenn Wilson.

    http://www.indiewire.com/article/film-independent-names-stephanie-allain-head-of-los-angeles-film-festival

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    Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

    Who Wants To Spin Off Their Film Festival? San Sebastian Does!

    The San Sebastian International Film Festival will spin off as the independent New Directors Section, organizers announced Wednesday. The section, which will continue to showcase the first and second films of directors worldwide, sees participants vie for the Kutxa-New Directors Award, worth a cash prize of €90,000 ($117,000) for the director and distributor of the film in Spain. The award will now only be granted to films screened in this section, and not to first and second films presented in other sections of the festival.

    http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/san-sebastian-film-festival-new-directors-284805

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