We’ve got a number of exciting acquisitions to report on this afternoon from the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.  Briefly:

  • The F Word – This fantastic relationship comedy from Goon director Michael Dowse stars Daniel Radcliffe as a young man who strikes up a close relationship with a girl (Zoe Kazan) who has a boyfriend (Rafe Spall).  It was one of my favorite films from TIFF this year and CBS Films has acquired US rights to the pic.  Read Matt’s review here.
  • The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: His/Hers – The ambitious two-part feature about a relationship between James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain is told from each partner’s point of view in two separate portions, and The Weinstein Company is now acquiring the U.S. rights to the Ned Benson-directed 190-minute pic per Deadline.
  • The Railway Man – The Weinstein Company is also acquiring (per THR) this war/post-war drama starring Colin Firth as a former POW suffering from PTSD who attempts to reconcile the events of his capture.  The pic as a whole never really comes together, but Jeremy Irvine stands out in flashbacks.  Read my review here.
  • Life of Crime – Deadline also repots that Lionsage and Roadside Attractions are nearing a deal for this Elmore Leonard adaptation starring Jennifer Aniston, Yasiin Bey, and John Hawkes.

Hit the jump for more details in the full press releases.

the-f-word-poster

Here’s the press release for The F Word:

CBS FILMS ACQUIRES MICHAEL DOWSE’S ‘THE F WORD’ 

THE ROMANTIC COMEDY STARS DANIEL RADCLIFFE & ZOE KAZAN 

TORONTO – September 10, 2013 – CBS Films announced today that it has acquired the U.S. rights to Michael Dowse’s THE F WORD which made its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival this week.  The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Adam Driver, Rafe Spall, Megan Park, and Mackenzie Davis. CBS Films’ Co-President Wolfgang Hammer and EVP of Acquisitions and Productions Scott Shooman made the joint announcement.

Directed by Michael Dowse (FUBAR, Goon) from a screenplay by Elan Mastai, THE F WORD is the story of medical school dropout Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe), a hopeless romantic who’s been repeatedly burned by bad relationships.  Deciding to put his life on hold, Wallace strikes up a friendship with animator Chantry (Zoe Kazan) who lives with her boyfriend Ben (Rafe Spall).  Wallace and Chantry click immediately, becoming best friends; but with the chemistry between them, can that last?

No Trace Camping’s David Gross, Jesse Shapira and Jeff Arkuss produced the film along with Macdara Kelleher and Andre Rouleau.  Hartley Gorenstein, Michael Dowse, Bryan Gliserman, Mark Costa, Ford Oelman, Marc Stephenson also served as Executive Producers, along with Patrice Theroux and Bryan Gliserman for Entertainment One, who co-financed the film. The screenplay is based on the play Toothpaste and Cigars by T.J. Dawe and Michael Rinaldi.

"This is a romantic comedy for a new generation that calls to mind classics like Say Anything and When Harry Met Sally,” said CBS Films Co-President Wolfgang Hammer.

Rena Ronson at UTA Independent Film Group and attorney Jamie Feldman negotiated the deal with CBS Films.  Entertainment One Films International (eOne) handles worldwide rights to the film in all media, excluding the U.S.  THE F WORD will be released by eOne in the UK and Canada. Michael Dowse, Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, Mackenzie Davis and Rafe Spall are represented by UTA.