With the Toronto International Film Festival in full swing, we have some acquisition news to bring your way tonight. First up, Magnet Releasing announced that it has acquired the worldwide rights to director Bobcat Goldthwait's God Bless America. Per the press release, Magnet is planning a 2012 theatrical release for the film through Magnolia Pictures' Ultra VOD program. Starring Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr and Mackenzie Brooke Smith, the film follows Frank (Murray), a jobless and potentially dying man whose frustrations manifest themselves via dispatching generally unlikable people. In case you missed it, click here to check out Matt's review of the film from TIFF.Up next, Celluloid Dreams announced that it has picked up worldwide rights to co-writer/director Dan Algrant's drama Greetings from Tim Buckley. Starring Penn Badgley, Imogen Poots, Frank Wood, Jessica Stone and Frank Bello, the pic follows Jeff Buckley (Badgley) as he romances a young woman (Poots) while attempting to understanding the father who abandoned him. The film is currently shooting in New York which means that a 2012 release could well be within reach. For a little more on the God Bless America and Greetings from Tim Buckley acquisitions, check out the press releases after the jump.Here's the official press release for Magnet's acquisition of God Bless America:
Toronto, ON â September 13, 2011 â The Wagner/Cuban Companyâs Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today they have acquired world rights to Bobcat Goldthwaitâs outrageous killing-spree comedy GOD BLESS AMERICA, which premiered late last week in the Midnight Madness program at the Toronto Film Festival. Starring Joel Murray and Tara Lynn Barr, GOD BLESS AMERICA is a Darko Entertainment production written and directed by Goldthwait (Sleeping Dogs Lie, Worldâs Greatest Dad) and produced by Sean McKittrick and Jeff Culotta.
GOD BLESS AMERICA is the second collaboration between Goldthwait, Darko and Magnolia/Magnet, who released Worldâs Greatest Dad in 2009. Magnet is planning a 2012 theatrical release for GOD BLESS AMERICA through Magnoliaâs Ultra VOD program. The film is Magnetâs second acquisition out of the Toronto Film Festival this year, having just picked up Michael Dowseâs raucous hockey comedy GOON.
Joel Murray gives a boldly comic and surprisingly empathetic performance as Frank, a divorced and depressed man who is becoming increasingly overwhelmed and infuriated by the rampant stupidity that surrounds him: his white trash neighbors, idiot co-workers, and most of all the soul-crushing banality and omnipresence of American pop culture. Loveless, jobless, possibly terminally ill, Frank has had enough of the downward spiral of America, and with nothing left to lose, he buys a gun. Joined by a 16 year old partner in crime (Barr), he sets out to off the stupidest, cruelest, and most repellent members of society,
âIâm a big fan of all of Bobcatâs films, and very excited to be collaborating with him again,â said Magnolia/Magnet President Eamonn Bowles. âGOD BLESS AMERICA is the revenge fantasy to end all revenge fantasies. Itâs a brilliant skewering of all thatâs despicable in American pop culture and itâs his funniest film to date.â
âIâm very excited to be working with Eamonn again,â said Goldthwait. Â âWe share the same vision especially when it comes to whom should be getting shot in the face hypothetically.â
The deal was negotiated for Magnet by SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Head of Legal and Business Affairs Chris Matson, with Cassian Elwes and Kevin Iwashina for Preferred Content. Magnolia Internationalâs Laird Adamson is handling international sales of the film.
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About Magnet Releasing
Magnet is the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, specializing in films from the vanguard of horror, action, comedy and Asian cinema, and is home to such films as Tomas Alfredsonâs Let the Right One In, Neil Marshallâs sword and sandals bloodbath Centurion, John Wooâs historical epic Red Cliff, Ti Westâs terrifying The House of the Devil, Tony Jaaâs Ong Bak trilogy, Nicholas Winding Refnâs Bronson, the Spanish horror film [Rec]2, George A. Romeroâs Survival of the Dead, Gareth Edwardsâ Monsters, Takeshi Miikeâs samurai masterpiece 13 Assassins, Alex de la Iglesiaâs The Last Circus, KIM Jeewoonâs I Saw the Devil, Quentin Dupieuxâs Rubber, Andre Ovredalâs Trollhunter, Michael Dowseâs hockey comedy Goon, the upcoming horror super-anthology ABCâs of Death, Takeshi Kitanoâs Outrage and many more. Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that also include the Landmark Theatres chain, the production company 2929 Productions, and high-definition cable network HDNet.
Here's the official press release for Celluloid Dream's acquisition of Greetings from Tim Buckley:
TORONTO, ON (September 13, 2010)âInternational production and sales outfit Celluloid Dreams, headed by Hengameh Panahi, has acquired worldwide rights to the highly anticipated film GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY starring Penn Badgley, Imogen Poots, Frank Wood, Norbert Leo Butz, Jessica Stone, Bill Sadler, and Frank Bello.  Dan Algrant (People I Know, Naked in New York) is directing the script he co-wrote with Emma Sheanshang and David Brendel.
GREETINGS FROM TIMÂ BUCKLEYÂ follows artist Jeff Buckleyâs (Badgley) eminent 1991 performance at his fatherâs tribute concert in St. Annâs Church. Through a romance with a young woman working at the concert, he comes to understand the father who abandoned him. Culminating in a cathartic performance of his fatherâs most famous songs, Jeffâs debut stuns the audience and launches his career as one of the greatest young musicians of his time.
âWe are thrilled Celluloid Dreams came on board. We are truly proud of this project and knew they were the perfect partner in making sure GREETINGS FROM TIM BUCKLEY found the right home.â said Patrick Millings Smith of Smuggler Films.
The film is currently shooting principal photography in New York City. The production entities behind the movie are SMUGGLER Films and A-Z Productions. It is being produced by Patrick Milling Smith, John N. Hart (Revolutionary Road, You Can Count On Me), and Fred Zollo (Quiz Show, Mississippi Burning). Executive Producers are Brian Carmody, Jill Footlick (Boys Donât Cry, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee) and Ben Limberg.
Nate Bolotin of XYZ Films acquired the film on behalf of Celluloid.The two companies are partnered on the elevated genre label, Celluloid Nightmares, which will be premiering the Indonesian action film The Raid as the opening night film in Toronto's "Midnight Madness" program. Â Recently, the two companies have broadened their agenda to include acquiring prestige titles like Greetings from Tim Buckley for sales under the Celluloid Dreams banner, including the Adrien Brody starrer Detachment which premiered earlier this year in Tribeca.