In their first 2011 Sundance Film Festival acquisition, Focus Features has picked up worldwide rights to writer-director Dee Rees’ ‘Pariah.’ Pariah screened in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category and featured a cast that includes Adepero Oduye, Pernell Walker, Kim Wayans, Charles Parnell, and Aasha Davis.
In their third pick-up of Sundance 2011, Roadside Attractions has acquired all North American rights to Miranda July’s second feature THE FUTURE. ‘The Future premiered at 2011 Sundance Film Festival and features a cast including Hamish Linklater, Miranda July, David Warshofsky, Isabella Acres, and Joe Putterlik.
New Video announced that the Company has acquired THE FLAW , a new documentary directed by British filmmaker David Sington (In the Shadow of the Moon) which made its U.S. premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and will be released under New Video’s Docurama Films brand later this year.
Sony Pictures Classics announced that they have acquired the rights in North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand to Take Shelter. The film is written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Shotgun Stories) and stars Academy Award® nominee Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Shea Whigham, Katy Mixon and Kathy Baker. The film is in dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival.
Lionsgate has reportedly closed the deal for North American rights on Lee Tamahori’s thriller ‘The Devil’s Double’ where premiered at 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The film centers on Dominic Cooper’s breakout role as Uday Hussein and his body double Latif Yahia. The cast also includes Ludivine Sagnier, Mimoun Oaissa, Raad Rawi, and Philip Quast
IFC Films announced from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival that the company is acquiring North American rights to director David Mackenzie’s romantic thriller PERFECT SENSE, which had its world premiere in the Premieres section this week. Directed by Sundance alum Mackenzie (who was at the festival in 2009 with Spread), with a screenplay by Kim Fupz Aakeson, the film reunites Mackenzie with star Ewan McGregor (who he directed in the critically acclaimed Young Adam). The film, which was produced by Malte Grunert and Gillian Berrie, also stars Eva Green and Connie Nielsen.
IFC Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) announced from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival that the companies are partnering to acquire North American rights to George Ratliff’s ‘Salvation Boulevard’, which premiered this week in the festival’s Premieres section. The film, with a screenplay by Ratliff (whose previous films include Hell House and Joshua) and Doug Max Stone, based on the novel by Larry Beinhart, stars Pierce Brosnan, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Harris, Greg Kinnear, Jim Gaffigan and Marisa Tomei. The film, a Mandalay Vision production of a Mandalay Pictures film, was produced by Cathy Schulman, Celine Rattray and Peter Fruchtman, and will be released theatrically via IFC Films.
The documentary ‘These Amazing Shadows’ about The National Film Registry, was picked up by IFC under their new banner, “Sundance Selects.” IFC will make These Amazing Shadows available via VOD beginning January 22 (the date of the World Premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival) for 30 days. It will be available in approximately 40 million homes on most major cable systems including Bright House, Comcast, Cablevision, Cox, and Time Warner Cable. After the 30 day VOD run the doc will be pulled to allow a festival and theatrical window. After this “window” is over there will be a television broadcast, VOD and DVD release.
Motion Film Group, Inc., a newly formed independent film venture from entertainment financier Fotis Georgiadis, has acquired the worldwide sales and distribution rights to writer/director Rashaad Ernesto Green’s debut feature Gun Hill Road, which premiered to a sold-out crowd and standing ovation at Sundance on Monday, January 24 in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. The coming-of-age drama set in The Bronx stars Esai Morales (“Caprica,” “NYPD Blue”), Judy Reyes (“Scrubs”), and Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Cedar Rapids, “The Wire”). Ronna Wallace of Eastgate Pictures LLC along with Andre Des Rochers, Esq. of Gray Krauss Des Rochers LLP negotiated the seven-figure deal on behalf of Gun Hill Road producers Ron Simons of SimonSays Entertainment and Michelle-anne M. Small of A Small Production Company.
The 2011 Sundance Film Festival announced the jury prizes in shorts filmmaking and gave honorable mentions based on outstanding achievement and merit.
This year Berlin International Film Festival Panorama is presenting 16 feature films in its main program, 14 in Panorama Special, 20 works in its Panorama Dokumente series and three supporting films. They are from 29 countries, 27 of which are screening as world premieres, 12 are directorial debuts.
The 2nd Detroit Independent Film Festival will take place March 9-12 at the Burton theater and on the Wayne State University campus in Detroit Michigan.