Amazon acquired 'Against All Enemies' for distribution in the US

After dominating the Sundance market by buying five of the hottest films, Amazon Studios has landed U.S. rights to Benedict Andrews’ political thriller Against All Enemies.

The film, which stars Kristen Stewart, Jack O’Connell and Anthony Mackie, is inspired by true events surrounding French New Wave darling and Breathless star Jean Seberg, who in the late 1960s was targeted by the FBI because of her political and romantic involvement with civil rights activist Hakim Jamal (Mackie). She was the focus of the FBI’s attempts to disrupt, discredit and expose the Black Power movement. Anna Waterhouse and Joe Shrapnel wrote the screenplay.

Amazon made the move for Against All Enemies after viewing only a promotional reel. The film is currently in post-production, and Memento Films is handling international sales at the Berlin market.

Against All Enemies also stars Colm Meaney, Margaret Qualley, Vince Vaughn, Zazie Beetz, Stephen Root and Yvan Attal.

La La Land's Fred Berger produced alongside his Automatik partner Brian Kavanaugh Jones as well as Kate Garwood, Stephen Hopkins. Marina Acton, Alan Ritchson and Brad Pilz also produced, while Waterhouse and Shrapnel executive produced.

As Jen Salke settles into her new post as head of Amazon Studios, the company has shown a voracious appetite for the hottest properties available at recent markets like Sundance and now Berlin. In Park City, Amazon bought four narrative features and one documentary for a record-setting $47 million dollars -- Late Night, The Report, Brittany Runs a Marathon, Honey Boy and One Child Nation. The Shia LaBeouf starrer Honey Boy also was produced by Automatik.

UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal with Amazon on behalf of the filmmaking team and financiers.

Andrews is repped by UTA, Paul Hastings and Judy Daish.

Mackie is handled by UTA and Inspire Entertainment.

Qualley is repped by UTA, Management 360 and Harris Hartman.

O’Connell, Shrapnel and Waterhouse are clients of CAA, while Shrapnel and Waterhouse are additionally repped by Grandview.

Stewart, Beetz and Root are handled by Gersh.

Vaughn is repped by WME.

Source

'Jeremiah Terminator Leroy' will be distributed by Universal Pictures in the US + several other markets

Kristen Stewart’s portrayal as literary hoaxer JT Leroy is poised to get distribution after it premiered as one of the high profile titles at the 2018 Toronto Film Festival. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Content Group is near to closing a U.S. rights to the Justin Kelly-directed drama. UPHE Content Group will set a U.S. theatrical release for the film and also gets in the deal some international rights that include Benelux, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and South Africa.

Stewart plays the title character alongside Laura Dern, Diane Kruger and Jim Sturgess in a film produced by Patrick Walmsley, Julie Yorn, Thor Bradwell, Gary Pearl, Cassian Elwes, Giri Tharan, Mark Amin, and Dave Hansen.

The fact-based drama has Stewart playing Savannah Knoop, a young woman who spends six years pretending to be the celebrated author JT Leroy until the scandalous revelation that this was a literary persona invented by Knoop’s boyfriend’s sister (Dern), who actually wrote the novels. The film is written and directed by Kelly (King Cobra, Welcome the Stranger) and co-written by Savannah Knoop, based on Knoop’s book about her experiences “playing” LeRoy.

JT Leroy was executive produced by Kelly, Savannah Knoop, Phyllis Laing, Devan Towers, Anders Erden, Simon Williams, Wayne Marc Godfrey, Robert Jones, Cami Winikoff, Tyler Boehm, Jed Root, Tracy Christian, Nadine De Barros, Erika Olde, Margot Hand, and Jere Hausfater.

CAA Media Finance and Cassian Elwes brokered the deal.

Source

Saban Films with Roadside Attractions will distribute 'Lizzie' in North America for a summer release in 2018

In a competitive situation, Saban Films has acquired North American rights to Craig William Macneill's Lizzie, which stars Chloe Sevigny (Boys Don't Cry) as the renowned accused murderess Lizzie Borden and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga) as her unlikely lover.

Saban Films is partnering with Roadside Attractions for a theatrical release this summer.

Written by Bryce Kass and based on the unsolved, much speculated murders of the Borden parents, Lizzie explores the inner workings of the household leading up to the murders and their immediate aftermath and reveals many layers of the strange, fragile woman who stood accused of the brutal crime. As an unmarried woman of 32, Lizzie (Sevigny) is a social outcast trapped under her father's austere control. When Bridget Sullivan (Stewart), a young maid desperate for work, comes to live with the family, Lizzie finds a sympathetic, kindred spirit and a chance intimacy that blossoms into a wicked plan and a dark, unsettling end.

The racy period drama had its world premiere on Jan. 19 in the festival's U.S. Dramatic Competition section. It was produced by Sevigny, Naomi Despres and Liz Destro and executive produced by Elizabeth Stillwell, Roxanne Fie Anderson and Edward J. Anderson of Powder Hound Pictures.

"I couldn't be happier than to partner with Saban Films and Roadside on Lizzie, a film that has been a labor of love for me for over 10 years," Sevigny said. "I am thrilled for theatergoers to see this incredible tale."

THR's review called the film "elegantly lurid but compelling [with] Sevigny in her best form in the title role" and a version "befitting of the #MeToo generation."

Kim Dickens (Gone Girl, Fear the Walking Dead), Denis O'Hare (Dallas Buyers Club, American Horror Story), Jeff Perry (Scandal), Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter) and Jamey Sheridan (Spotlight, Homeland) round out the cast.

"Chloe and Kristen are two of the most esteemed actresses of our time," Saban Films' Bill Bromiley said. "Their performances in Lizzie are evocative and gripping, and we're proud to be championing this film."

Added Roadside Attractions co-founders Howard Cohen and Eric d'Arbeloff: "Chloe and Kristen make these roles their own, and they slay in every sense of the word. Craig delivered a tense period thriller, and we are excited to partner with our friends at Saban as we bring audiences Lizzie later this year."

Saban Films and Roadside Attractions previously teamed on Tommy Lee Jones' The Homesman, starring Hilary Swank, and the Tom Hanks starrer A Hologram for the King.

Ness Saban and Jonathan Saba negotiated the deal on behalf of Saban Films, with Endeavor Content and Gersh, who represented the filmmakers.

Source

IFC Films acquires distribution rights for 'Certain Women' in the US

Kelly Reichardt directed the movie, which is based on the Montana-based short stories of Maile Meloy

IFC Films is acquiring U.S. rights to Kelly Reichardt‘s Montana-set drama “Certain Women,” which stars Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern, the company announced Wednesday.

Written and directed by Reichardt, the film debuted at Sundance and will be released later this year.

James Le Gros, Jared Harris, René Auberjonois and breakout talent Lily Gladstone co-star in “Certain Women,” which is based on the short stories of Maile Meloy.

Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino and Anish Savjani of filmscience produced the film, which was executive produced by Todd Haynes and Larry Fessenden. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ Stage 6 Films acquired worldwide rights to “Certain Women” prior to the start of production and will distribute the film internationally. [Via Variety: Sony’s Stage 6 Films nabbed worldwide rights to the film before production began.]

In “Certain Women,” the lives of a lawyer, a ranch hand and a married couple intersect across the state of Montana, where the men are struggling to get their lives right in the face of aging, injury, bad luck and wrong moves — and the women are imperfectly blazing a trail. Laura (Dern) is sent in to calm her client Fuller (Harris) during a hostage situation. A quasi-land grab is orchestrated by Gina (Williams), whose husband Ryan (Le Gros) reluctantly goes along with it. A ranch hand (Gladstone) is left to long for Elizabeth (Stewart), who passes through town while she stays at the ranch and tends to her chores.

“The entire team at IFC Films have long been fans of Kelly and are thrilled to finally be working with her — she is a master at her craft and one of the most distinct storytellers working in cinema today,” said Jonathan Sehring, president of Sundance Selects/IFC Films. “Along with her amazing cast of Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Lily Gladstone and Michelle Williams, Kelly has created another treasure that confirms her as one of our great American filmmakers. We can’t wait to bring it to the theaters for audiences to see.”

The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, SVP of acquisitions from Sundance Selects/IFC Films, with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

Source: The Wrap

Amazon acquires the untitled Woody Allen project for North America

Continuing its relationship with Woody Allen, Amazon Studios has acquired all North American rights to the director’s new movie, which stars Jeannie Berlin, Steve Carell, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Kristen Stewart, Corey Stoll and Ken Stott.

A romantic comedy set in the 1930s that was shot last summer in New York and Los Angeles, the untitled film will receive a traditional theatrical release nationwide, after which it will become available exclusively to Prime members through Prime Video.

Producers of the new film include Allen’s longtime collaborator Letty Aronson, as well as Steve Tenenbaum and Edward Walson. Executive producers are Ronald L. Chez, Adam B. Stern and Marc I. Stern.

“Like all beginning relationships, there is much hope, mutual affection and genuine goodwill — the lawsuits come later,” joked Allen.

“Woody Allen is a brilliant filmmaker. We’re so proud to be in business with him for both his next film and his first ever TV series,” said Roy Price, head of Amazon Studios.

Allen is also writing and directing an untitled six-episode TV series for Amazon starring himself, Elaine May and Miley Cyrus. It’s executive produced by Erika Aronson, produced by Helen Robin, and begins shooting next month.

The movie deal was negotiated by John Burnham and Jessica Lacy of ICM Partners, Erika Aronson of Taborlake and Loeb & Loeb on behalf of the filmmakers.

Source

A24, DirecTV Acquires ‘Equals’ for US Distribution

A24 and DirecTV have acquired U.S. rights for the sci-fi drama “Equals” starring Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult, Variety has learned.

The film, which premiered at Venice, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. Drake Doremus, who earned critical raves for 2011’s Sundance grand-jury-prize winner “Like Crazy,” directs the picture which offers up an off-beat take on the science-fiction genre.

The deal for the film was made with DirectTV, which will first debut the picture, before it opens in select theaters via its distribution pact with indie label A24.

“Equals” tells the story of a future dystopian society where its inhabitants don’t feel any emotions, but it’s meant to double as a parable for ending a long-term relationship, Doremus explained during a question and answer session following its Toronto debut.

A24 is currently fielding the Oscar- hopeful “Room,” starring Brie Larson and scored a critical and commercial hit with the Amy Winehouse documentary “Amy.”

The deal was handled by UTA Independent Film Group.

Source

IFC Films acquires 'Anesthesia' in North America for a release in 2016

IFC Films has acquired North American rights to the Kristen Stewart starrer Anesthesia.

Written and directed by Tim Blake Nelson, the drama also stars Glenn Close, Sam Waterston and Gretchen Mol. UTA had been selling Anesthesia at the Cannes film market.

IFC plans to give the film a day-and-date release in 2016.

The story kicks off after the violent mugging of a Columbia University professor.

The film, which premiered in April at the Tribeca Film Festival, was produced by Nelson, Julie Buck, Josh Hetzler, John Molli and Christopher J. Scott.

Source

Sony Pictures picks up the 'Untitled Kelly Reichardt Project' for distribution worldwide

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has closed a worldwide rights deal for the untitled film that Kelly Reichardt just wrapped in Montana. Starring Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, Rosanna Arquette, James LeGros, Jared Harris and Lily Gladstone, the film is a series of vignettes that revolve around the lives of people in small-town Montana. Reichardt wrote the script based on short stories by Maile Meloy.

Reichardt previously directed Night Moves, Meek’s Cutoff and Wendy And Lucy. Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino and Anish Savjani of filmscience are producing. Todd Haynes and Larry Fessenden are the exec producers.

Source: Deadline

"Equals" Finds Distribution in France

Selective Films has acquired French rights to Drake Doremus’ sci-fi love story “Equals.” Starring Kristen Stewart and Nicholas Hoult, “Equals” is set in the future where emotions have been eradicated, but a disease can cause them to return.


Just when most French distributors are either too cash-strapped or cautious to continue picking up U.S. indies, Jean-Philippe Tirel’s company is staying active, targeting few high-profile U.S. projects at script stage, such as “Nightcrawler.”


Selective Films also recently acquired “The Riot Club” (with Orange/Paramount) and “The Coup” (with SND).


Tirel and Selective Films partner Maya Hariri are attending the AFM with acquisition and marketing topper Romain Daubeach and is in discussions on four more titles.


Under its deal with Orange Studio, the film co-production and co-distribution arm of the telco company, “Equals” will be released in France by Paramount in late 2015 or early 2016.


Repped by Mister Smith Entertainment, the movie began shooting in Japan and Singapore in August. Ridley Scott’s Scott Free is producing with Route One.

Source

Sony Pictures Classics picks up 'Still Alice' for US distribution

Capping yet another busy day of Toronto deals, Sony Pictures Classics is closing a low seven-figure deal for Still Alice, the pic written and directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. The label paid a low-seven figure price, and its plan is to release the film in Oscar season. It has gotten strong notices for Julianne Moore, who stars with Alec Baldwin, Kristen Stewart, and Kate Bosworth. She plays a cognitive psychologist who faces the early on set of Alzheimer’s Disease. This is the first deal that calls for a berth in this year’s Oscar race, though many said that the Michael Shannon-Andrew Garfield pic 99 Homes has the same kind of designs when it gets a deal. The deal was brokered by CAA. The film is playing in the Special Presentations section of the festival.

Press Statement:


NEW YORK (September 12, 2014) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they acquired North American rights to STILL ALICE, starring Julianne Moore, Kristen Stewart, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth and Hunter Parrish. The film reunites Co-Directors and Co-Writers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland (THE LAST OF ROBIN HOOD) with Sony Pictures Classics, who worked together on QUINCEANERA. STILL ALICE, a BSM Studio Presentation, is produced by Lex Lutzus, James Brown and Pamela Koffler and executive produced by Marie Savare, Christine Vachon of Killer Films, Maria Shriver, Emilie Georges, Nicholas Shumaker, Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler. This also marks a homecoming for Julianne Moore, who worked with the company on VANYA ON 42ND STREET, SAFE and THE MYTH OF FINGERPRINTS.

The film has received much acclaim while debuting at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its world premiere on Thursday.

Alice Howland, happily married with three grown children, is a renowned linguistics professor who starts to forget words. When she receives a devastating diagnosis, Alice and her family find their bonds tested in STILL ALICE.

“Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland have made a seamless powerfully moving film. The cast is simply phenomenal. Julianne Moore, one of the world’s truly great film actresses, gives here her finest performance to date. It is a privilege to welcome Wash and Richard, Julianne, Alec and the producers back into the Sony Pictures Classics family with a film about family that promises to pack an emotional punch on audiences throughout the country,” said Sony Pictures Classics.

“To have unveiled the movie on Monday and have Sony Pictures Classics picking up it up by Friday is a filmmaker’s dream. We know STILL ALICE is in the best possible hands with Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and the entire team at SPC and look forward to a great release,” added Filmmakers Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland.

The deal was negotiated with CAA.


Deadline

Lionsgate acquires 'American Ultra' for US distribution

The appetite for scripts and partially finished films is soaring. Lionsgate is tying up a deal today to pay $7 million to pre-buy U.S. distribution rights to American Ultra, the action comedy that begins shooting in New Orleans in five weeks with Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart starring for Project X director Nima Nourizadeh. In the script by Chronicle writer Max Landis, Eisenberg plays a stoner whose small-town life with his live-in girlfriend (Stewart) is upended when his past catches up with him, putting him the crosshairs of a government operation bent on wiping him out. It’s a co-production between A Likely Story and Circle Of Confusion, with Anthony Bregman, David Alpert and Britton Rizo producing, and Kevin Scott Frakes of Palmstar Media Capital and Raj Brinder Singh of Merced Media Partners exec producing.

The buzz on this one has been building since Berlin, and I thought a deal might be made there. This rivals the record $7 million Berlin deal that The Weinstein Company paid for U.S. rights to the Morten Tyldum-directed The Imitation Game [.]

The same team at CAA brokered this giant American Ultra deal with Lionsgate after the agency packaged the film and arranged the financing. While many felt that the results of the Berlin market were underwhelming, sometimes those festivals need to be evaluated by results that are not immediately evident. It is becoming more common for dialogue on big films like this one to begin at Berlin. Some of the deals fall in place shortly after, or during the Cannes Film Festival in May. Clearly, studios need to fill slots and haven’t been developing enough, so strong prices should continue to be paid for material and packaged pictures like American Ultra.

Source Deadline