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 May 9, 2008 iW NEWS | Lionsgate To Release "W"
Lionsgate has announced that it has acquired all North American distribution rights to Oliver Stone's anticipated George W. Bush biopic, "W." Lionsgate will also distribute the film in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. "W" stars Josh Brolin as the current president, Elizabeth Banks as his wife Laura, James Cromwell and Ellen Burstyn as his parents and former first couple, Thandie Newton as Condoleezza Rice, Jeffrey Wright as Colin Powell, Scott Glenn as Donald Rumsfeld and Ioan Gruffud as Tony Blair. The film begins production on May 12, 2008 in Louisiana, and Lionsgate will released the film on October 17, 2008, just a few weeks before the presidential election. "The impact of George W. Bush's presidency will be felt for many years to come," said Oliver Stone in a statement." Despite a meteoric, almost illogical rise to power, and a tremendous influence on the world, we don't really know much about Mr. Bush beyond the controlled images we've been allowed to see on TV. This movie's taking a bold stab at looking behind that curtain. I'm real pleased that Lionsgate has the independence necessary to bring this provocative story to an American audience." [Peter Knegt]  [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] May 8, 2008iW NEWS | Palm Pictures Croons to "Patti Smith"
North American rights to photographer Steven Sebring's directorial debut, "Patti Smith: Dream of Life," which premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival have been acquired by Palm Pictures. The deal, which encompasses North American theatrical, non-theatrical and home video and VOD distribution rights, was announced by Jan Korbelin, managing partner of Palm Pictures. The agreement was negotiated by Pierre Menahem, on behalf of Celluloid Dreams. Palm is currently planning a late summer 2008 theatrical release, followed by the DVD release in the early 2009. The doc is a portrait of poet, artist, punk pioneer and activist Patti Smith. "Palm Pictures has long been dedicated to bringing audiences the best in music films." commented Korbelin in a statement. "Patti Smith is a cultural pioneer whose energy and powerful vision redefined the world of music." [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Cinema Guild Takes "Myths"
The Cinema Guild announced its acquisition of the U.S. distribution rights to Margaret Brown's second feature film, "The Order of Myths." "Myths," a documentary which looks at race in America through the Mardi Gras celebration in Mobile, Alabama, will open in New York and Los Angeles in July and August, followed by a national release. "With 'The Order of Myths,' Margaret has made an incredibly engaging film, a beautifully-composed, thoughtful investigation into our nation's history and its lingering effect on one community," said Ryan Krivoshey, Director of Distrubution for The Cinema Guild. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | 24 frames Acquires "Partes Usadas"
Independent distributor 24 frames announced that it has acquired the North American rights to Mexican film "Partes Usadas, which was distributed in Mexico through Canana Films, founded by Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna. The first feature of writer-director Aaron Fernandez, the film follows a 14 year old boy ad his shady uncle who are saving up to illegally immigrate to Chicago. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] May 7, 2008iW NEWS | Fortissimo Takes Non-North American Rights to Madonna's "I Am"
Director Nathan Rissman's "I Am Because We Are," produced, written and narrated by Madonna, has been acquired by Fortissimo Films. The doc will have its international premiere during Cannes where it will be presented as part of amfAR's annual "Cinema Against AIDS" event. The film spotlights the camera on Malawi an African country of twelve million people ravaged by the AIDS epidemic -- an epidemic that has left more than one million children as orphans. The film also examines global and individual solutions to solve the crisis of this small nation. Fortissimo's SVP, Sales & Acquisitions, Winnie Lau negotiated the deal, which includes all rights outside North America, with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) which represents the film. Madonna will be in Cannes May 22 as a co-chair of "Cinema Against AIDS." "I Am Because We Are" had its world premiere at the recent Tribeca Film Festival. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] VAR | Sony Classics Gets Egoyan's Cannes Entry
Sony Pictures Classics has acquired "domestic and select international rights" to Atom Egoyan's Cannes Film Festival competition entry, "Adoration," according to Variety. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] May 6, 2008iW NEWS | Visit Gets Safdie's "Robbed" for Cannes
Unveiling its lineup for next week's Cannes Market, Visit Films has announced its acquisition of international rights to Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," which will close the Director's Fortnight section this year. Also on Visit's slate are Azazel Jacobs's Sundance hit "Momma's Man," Olaf De Fleur's Berlinale Teddy Award winner "The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela," Stephen Higgins and Nina Gilden Seavey's "The Matador" from SXSW and Guy Moshe's "Holly." The company recently closed a spate of deals on recent market titles, including a 4 film pact with MovieMobz in Brazil for "Arranged," "Hannah Takes The Stairs," "Choking Man," and "Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America." It also licensed "Hannah Takes the Stairs" to ICA Films (UK), "Choking Man" to Soda (UK), and "Severed Ways" to Ascot-Elite (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] May 5, 2008HR | Maya Makes "Sleep Dealer" Pact
Maya Entertainment is acquiring all U.S. rights to Alex Rivera's "Sleep Dealer," according to The Hollywood Reporter. The company is planning a theatrical and home video release. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | NonStop Takes Nordic Rights For "Cowboys," "Faster"
Sweden-based NonStop Entertainment left the Tribeca Film Festival with two documentaries - Billy Corben's "Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustin' With The Godmother," and Christopher Bells' "Bigger, Stronger, Faster." NonStop acquired distribution rights from Magnolia PIctures for both films in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Strand Buds a "Blossom"
Doris Doerrie's "Cherry Blossoms-Hanami" has been been picked by Strand Releasing in the U.S. from Bavaria Film International. L.A. based Strand plans an Autumn release for the film. Bavaria is touting sales in over 30 territories, including Hong Kong and Denmark. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] May 1, 2008iW NEWS | TV Deal for "Waiting for Hockney"
Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. Channel 4 and More 4 have announced a UK television deal for Julia Checkoway's "Waiting For Hockney," about American artist Billy Pappas. The film had its world premiere in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival.[permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ] April 30, 2008iW NEWS | Goldwyn and Sony Get "Elegy"
iW NEWS | Goldwyn and Sony Get "Elegy" Earlier today, Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group (SPWAG) announced a partnership to acquire U.S. rights to Isabel Coixet's "Elegy," starring Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley. Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment is also on board for the release and will work to promote the film to their 7 million subscribers. Produced by Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi and Andre Lamal, the Lakeshore Entertainment film which debuted at the Berlinale earlier this year, is based on Pulitzer Prize winner Philip Roth's short novel "The Dying Animal" and was adapted by Nicholas Meyer. The deal was negotiated by Goldwyn's Meyer Gottlieb and Peter Goldwyn, Sony's Scott Shooman Lakeshore's David Dinerstein and Netflix's Thom Zadra. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | THINKFilm Makes Theatrical & Home Video Deal for "Roman Polanski" Doc
U.S. theatrical and home video rights to Sundance '08 doc "Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired" have been acquired by THINKFilm from HBO, which acquired the title at the festival in January. "Polanski" will have its international premiere at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival. HBO will air the film on June 9th, and THINK will launch a theatrical roll out beginning July 11 in New York. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film spotlights the the public scandal and private tragedy that drove the legendary director from the United States more than 30 years ago. "Marina's film is one of the best documentaries I've seen in years," commented Urman in a statement. "It is as compulsively enjoyable as the juiciest tabloid yet it also serves as a stunning indictment of our tabloid-crazed culture. Buoyed by HBO's terrific promotional support, the film should have enormous want-to-see, and exhibitor interest in the film couldn't be higher." The deal, which was jointly announced by THINKFilm president Mark Urman and Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films, and is the latest collaboration between the two companies, whose series of partnerships has included recent Oscar-winner, "Taxi to the Dark Side.." Last month, reported on the film's brief Oscar-qualifying run, which indieWIRE. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes, Documentary ] April 29, 2008iW NEWS | Filmax Goes with "Paraiso Travel"
Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. Filmax has acquired international sales rights and Spanish theatrical rights to Simon Brand's "Paraiso Travel." Screening as a North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, Filmax will have the title in the Cannes Market next month. CAA is handling North American rights. Based on Jorge Franco's book, the film has already been a hit in Colombia, where it was one of the two two grossing films ever in the country. [Eugene Hernandez][permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ] VAR | IFC Takes "Fermat's Room"
Tribeca Film Festival coverage sponsored by Stella Artois. IFC has acquired North American rights to Luis Piedrahita and Rodrigo Sopena's "Fermat's Room," according to Variety. The film is currently screening in the Discovery section at the Tribeca Film Festival.[permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, New York ] April 28, 2008iW NEWS | Magnolia Goes "Red" in North America
North American rights to Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee's Sundance feature, "Red" have been picked up by Magnolia Pictures, the company announced Monday afternoon. Starring Brian Cox, Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer and Tom Sizemore, the revenge thriller opens with the murder of the titular 14 year-old dog, sole companion of elderly recluse Avery Ludlow (Cox). Avery tracks down the troubled teen who murdered his dog without much trouble, but instead of receiving simple justice from the boy's father (Sizemore) he finds himself caught in a spiral of increasingly violent acts of retribution. Magnolia plans a late summer theatrical rollout preceded by airings via HDNet's Ultra VOD program. Magnolia SVP Tom Quinn and head of business affairs, Jason Janego negotiated the deal with Sarah Lash from Cinetic Media and Josh Braun from Submarine representing the filmmakers. The film will screen in the upcoming Cannes Market with Bleiberg Entertainment selling. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] iW NEWS | Fortissimo Gets Cannes Competition Title, "Serbis"
Fortissimo Films has acquired Brillante Mendoza's Festival de Cannes 2008 competition entry, "Serbis" (Service), securing all rights outside of France and the Philippines. The film is the first Filipino title in the section in 24 years. Mendoza's previous films include "The Masseur" (2005) and "Foster Child" (2007). It is described as a "multi-stranded storyline [that] captures the core of the modern matriarchal Filipino family, while delving into the nature of the fraught relationships between customer and client, mother and children, as well as between lovers." The pact was brokered by Fortissimo's Co-Chairman Michael J. Werner, and Director of Marketing & Special Projects Raymond Phathanavirangoon, together with the film's Executive Producer Didier Costet of France's SWIFT Productions. [Eugene Hernandez] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] HR | IFC Gets "Robbed"
IFC is closing a deal for Josh Safdie's "The Pleasure of Being Robbed," which will close the Directors' Fortnight in Cannes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions, Cannes ] April 25, 2008iW NEWS | City Lights Takes "The Matador"
City Lights Pictures announced the acquisition of the North American theatrical, internet and DVD rights to the Nina Gilden Seavey's doc "The Matador." Documenting David Fandila's journey to become the world's top bullfighter, the film had its world premiere at SXSW last month. "City Lights is honored to be releasing such a stunning film," said CEO Danny Fisher in a statement. "This isn't just a riveting documentary about a fascinating subject, this is an entertainment spectacle that emerges us in a unique and controversial sport." [Peter Knegt] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] April 18, 2008iW NEWS | A Lifesize "Monster" for U.S. and Canada
Worldwide distribution to director Cullen Hoback's "Monster Camp" have been picked up by Lifesize Entertainment. The company palns a U.S. and Canadian theatrical release in May. The award winning doc received top honors at the Rome International Film Festival, Miami Underground Film Festival and Cinequest. The film is a glimpse into the world of live-action role playing ("LARPing"), a real-life version of the videogame phenomenon World of Warcraft. "'Monster Camp' is an enlightening, entertaining and energetic look at an American subculture that also provides a broader commentary on the desire we all feel at times to escape the mundane tediousness of everyday life," commented Lifesize acquisitions manager Marc Hughes in a statement. [Brian Brooks] [permalink] [ filed under Acquisitions ] Older Buzz/Rumors about AcquisitionsApril 18, 2008 April 16, 2008 April 15, 2008 April 15, 2008 April 14, 2008 April 14, 2008 April 12, 2008 April 10, 2008 March 31, 2008 March 27, 2008 March 26, 2008 March 26, 2008 March 19, 2008 March 11, 2008 March 10, 2008 March 4, 2008 March 3, 2008 February 27, 2008 February 27, 2008 February 26, 2008 February 26, 2008 February 25, 2008 February 19, 2008 February 18, 2008 February 18, 2008 February 12, 2008 February 12, 2008 February 12, 2008 February 12, 2008 February 11, 2008 February 11, 2008 February 11, 2008 February 11, 2008 February 10, 2008 February 9, 2008 February 8, 2008 February 8, 2008 February 7, 2008 February 7, 2008 February 7, 2008 February 7, 2008 February 4, 2008 February 1, 2008 January 31, 2008 January 31, 2008 January 30, 2008 January 29, 2008 January 26, 2008 January 26, 2008 January 26, 2008 January 25, 2008 January 25, 2008 January 25, 2008 January 24, 2008 January 24, 2008 January 23, 2008 January 23, 2008 January 23, 2008 January 23, 2008 January 23, 2008 January 22, 2008 January 22, 2008 January 22, 2008 January 22, 2008 January 20, 2008 January 20, 2008 January 19, 2008 January 19, 2008 January 18, 2008 January 17, 2008 January 17, 2008 January 17, 2008 January 16, 2008 January 16, 2008 January 15, 2008 January 10, 2008 January 10, 2008 January 9, 2008 December 12, 2007 December 6, 2007 December 5, 2007 November 27, 2007 November 16, 2007 November 16, 2007 November 15, 2007 November 15, 2007 November 13, 2007 November 6, 2007 November 3, 2007 November 2, 2007 November 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 November 1, 2007 October 31, 2007 October 30, 2007 October 29, 2007 October 25, 2007 October 25, 2007 October 24, 2007 October 8, 2007 October 1, 2007 October 1, 2007 September 21, 2007 September 21, 2007 September 21, 2007 September 20, 2007 September 20, 2007 September 19, 2007 September 18, 2007 September 18, 2007 September 14, 2007 September 14, 2007 September 14, 2007 September 13, 2007 September 12, 2007 September 11, 2007 September 11, 2007 September 10, 2007 September 9, 2007 September 8, 2007 September 8, 2007 September 7, 2007 September 6, 2007 September 5, 2007 August 30, 2007 August 29, 2007 August 29, 2007 August 27, 2007 August 27, 2007 August 23, 2007 August 23, 2007 August 21, 2007 August 20, 2007 August 20, 2007 August 16, 2007 August 15, 2007 August 13, 2007 August 13, 2007 August 9, 2007 August 7, 2007 August 3, 2007 July 25, 2007 July 24, 2007 July 20, 2007 July 16, 2007 July 13, 2007 July 12, 2007 July 9, 2007 July 2, 2007 June 28, 2007 June 28, 2007 June 27, 2007 June 26, 2007 June 25, 2007 June 22, 2007 June 20, 2007 June 18, 2007 June 12, 2007 June 11, 2007 June 5, 2007 May 31, 2007 May 31, 2007 May 30, 2007 May 30, 2007 May 26, 2007 May 24, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 22, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 20, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 19, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 18, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 17, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 15, 2007 May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 May 11, 2007 May 9, 2007 May 9, 2007 May 8, 2007 May 8, 2007 May 7, 2007 May 2, 2007 May 2, 2007 May 2, 2007 May 2, 2007 April 30, 2007 April 30, 2007 April 27, 2007 April 24, 2007 April 22, 2007 April 17, 2007 April 17, 2007 April 17, 2007 April 13, 2007 April 5, 2007 April 4, 2007 March 30, 2007 March 29, 2007 March 27, 2007 March 26, 2007 March 21, 2007 March 20, 2007 March 20, 2007 March 19, 2007 March 16, 2007 March 15, 2007 March 15, 2007 March 12, 2007 March 10, 2007 March 8, 2007 March 6, 2007 March 5, 2007 February 23, 2007 February 16, 2007 February 16, 2007 February 14, 2007 February 14, 2007 February 14, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 13, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 12, 2007 February 11, 2007 February 10, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 8, 2007 February 7, 2007 February 7, 2007 February 7, 2007 February 6, 2007 February 2, 2007 February 1, 2007 January 26, 2007 January 26, 2007 January 26, 2007 January 26, 2007 January 25, 2007 January 24, 2007 January 24, 2007 January 23, 2007 January 23, 2007 January 23, 2007 January 23, 2007 January 22, 2007 January 22, 2007 January 22, 2007 January 21, 2007 January 19, 2007 January 18, 2007 January 17, 2007 January 17, 2007 January 3, 2007 January 3, 2007 December 4, 2006 November 30, 2006 November 28, 2006 November 27, 2006 November 20, 2006 November 17, 2006 November 17, 2006 November 17, 2006 November 16, 2006 November 15, 2006 November 10, 2006 November 8, 2006 November 8, 2006 November 7, 2006 November 7, 2006 November 6, 2006 November 6, 2006 November 6, 2006 November 6, 2006 November 6, 2006 November 2, 2006 October 31, 2006 October 30, 2006 October 23, 2006 October 20, 2006 October 16, 2006 O |