A few films have already found buyers at this year's Sundance 2015 Film Festival, which began today. Here is a run down:
- Magnolia Pictures has gotten Results, which it nabbed in advance of the film's Sundance premiere on the 27th. Guy Pearce and Cobie Smulders star as Austin, Texas fitness gurus, alongside Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Michael Hall, Brooklyn Decker and Constance Zimmer.
- Showtime, which has been steadily increasing its documentary catalogue, has acquired Dreamcatcher in advance of its January 25th screening. Directed by Kim Longinotto (Divorce Iranian Style), the film explores the dark world of sex trafficking.
- Lionsgate has grabbed up Don Verdean, a comedy from Napolean Dynamite's Jared and Jerusha Hess. The movie, starring Sam Rockwell, Jermaine Clement, Amy Ryan, Danny McBride, Leslie Bibb and Will Forte,follows a Biblical archeologist hired to find relics in the Holy Land, which starts out as a legitimate endeavor (though quickly becomes less so).
Below are the full press releases for Results and Dreamcatcher:
Results
Sundance - Park City, UT – January 22, 2015 - The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired world rights to RESULTS, a new comedy starring Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders and Kevin Corrigan from writer/director Andrew Bujalski, which will have its world premiere in the US Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival in the Eccles Theater on Tuesday, January 27th.
RESULTS is well toned ensemble comedy set in the fitness world of Austin, TX. Corrigan plays Danny, a recently divorced, newly rich, and utterly miserable slob who makes a stab at self-improvement by signing up for a personal trainer at a local gym. There he meets self-styled guru/owner Trevor (Guy Pearce) and irresistibly acerbic trainer Kat (Cobie Smulders). Soon, their three lives are inextricably knotted, both professionally and personally. Andrew Bujalski (Computer Chess, 2013) returns to the Sundance Film Festival with a funny, intimate tale that's utterly grounded in real life.
RESULTS also stars Giovanni Ribisi, Anthony Michael Hall, Brooklyn Decker and Constance Zimmer. The film was produced by Paul Bernon, Sam Slater and Houston King. Executive producers were David Bernon, Greg Stewart and Sev Ohanian.
“We’ve been long time fans of Andrew Bujalski, one of the most distinctive American directors working today. We are incredibly excited to be handling RESULTS, especially with the stellar cast he’s assembled,” said Magnolia’s President Eamonn Bowles.
"Hey, thanks," said director Andrew Bujalski.
"Magnolia Pictures is the perfect home for RESULTS," said Sam Slater and Paul Bernon of Burn Later Productions. "We are thrilled to be working together again after a wonderful partnership on our film DRINKING BUDDIES. Magnolia is a leading force in the world of filmmaking!"
Magnolia is eyeing a summer theatrical release for the film.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions John Von Thaden with ICM Partners on behalf of the filmmakers.
About MAGNOLIA PICTURES
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 includes the Landmark Theatres chain and AXS TV. Recent releases include Swedish Oscar selection and Golden Globe nominee FORCE MAJEURE and acclaimed documentary LIFE ITSELF, the winner of the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Documentary. Other 2014 titles include WHITEY, Lars Von Trier’s NYMPHOMANIAC, Richard Ayoade’s dystopian vision THE DOUBLE, ALAN PARTRIDGE starring Steve Coogan, Lenny Abrahamson’s FRANK, Joe Swanberg’s HAPPY CHRISTMAS, Lukas Moodysson’s WE ARE THE BEST!, LIFE PARTNERS starring Leighton Meister and Gillian Jacobs and FRONTERA. Upcoming releases include Roy Andersson’s A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE, Albert Maysles’ charming Iris Apfel documentary IRIS, Australian sex comedy THE LITTLE DEATH, Hungarian Oscar selection WHITE GOD, BALLET 422, a documentary featuring New York City Ballet and Justin Peck, the exhilarating documentary SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, and Susanne Bier’s SERENA, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper.
Dreamcatcher
NEW YORK – January 22, 2015 – Showtime Networks has acquired the rights to DREAMCATCHER, the inspirational portrait of Chicago’s Brenda Myers-Powell whose Dreamcatcher Foundation fights to end human trafficking and to prevent the sexual exploitation of at-risk youth. The documentary was acquired before its world premiere at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, which kicks off today.
DREAMCATCHER is set to world premiere on Sunday, January 25 at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival as part of the World Cinema Documentary section. Directed by veteran documentarian Kim Longinotto (Salma, Rough Aunties, Divorce Iranian Style), the film focusses on Brenda Myers-Powell, a former Chicago prostitute who helps women and teenage girls break the cycle of sexual abuse and exploitation. The film lays bare the hidden violence that devastates the lives of young women, their families and the communities where they live. Armed with an overwhelming personality and unflinching focus, Brenda establishes The Dreamcatcher Foundation, which helps women and girls acquire the tools they need to leave the sex industry.
DREAMCATCHER is a Rise Films, Vixen Films and Green Acres production in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation. It is directed and shot by Kim Longinotto and produced by Lisa Stevens and three-time Emmy winner Teddy Leifer (The Interrupters, Oscar nominee The Invisible War). Executive Producers are Dan Cogan, Geralyn White Dreyfous and Regina K. Scully. Associate Producers are John Stack and Wilfred Spears. The SHOWTIME premiere of DREAMCATCHER has not been set yet.