As the fall festivals wind down with fewer actors and writers on hand due to the strikes, more independent movies came into the season looking for buyers. But only a handful of found homes, especially if interim agreements for some titles caused bigger AMPTP distributors to get cold feet.
But there’s still been a market out of Venice, Toronto, and Telluride, even if many titles haven’t sold during the festivals (very little did last year) or get released in 2023. Below are the running list of movies that have found buyers.
Movies Acquired During the Festivals
“Sing Sing”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: A24
Date Acquired: Sept. 15
A24’s first big splash out of TIFF happens to be for a movie that did in fact sign SAG-AFTRA’s interim agreement, Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing.” The distributor is planning a 2024 theatrical release and acquired it in a competitive situation in a seven-figure deal.
Named for the infamous prison, “Sing Sing” is about an incarcerated theater troupe that puts on a play as part of a rehabilitation program. The film’s cast formerly incarcerated actors and is based on a real-life program. But it also utilized a profit participation model in its making such that every member of the film was treated and compensated equally.
Kwedar directed the film and co-wrote it with Clint Bentley. The film stars Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin, Sean San José, and Paul Raci. Bentley and Kwedar are also producers alongside Monique Walton.
CAA Media Finance brokered the domestic deal.
“Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa”
Section: TIFF Docs
Distributor: Netflix
Date Acquired: Sept. 12
In what was suggested by some could be a quiet market for documentaries, Netflix came away with one of the titles IndieWire predicted could sell, the latest doc from Lucy Walker, “Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa.” The streamer has already announced it will land on Netflix in 2024.
Lhakpa Sherpa was the first Nepali woman to completely summit and survive Mount Everest, but the documentary explores how that recognition and accomplishment didn’t do for her financially what it has for other climbers. Walker stays close with Sherpa and captures her funny, no-nonsense attitude toward climbing and life.
“Mountain Queen” was produced by SK Global Entertainment’s Charlie Corwin, for OBB Pictures, Michael D. Ratner and Miranda Sherman, and for Avocados and Coconuts, Dalia Burde and Christopher Newman. Executive producers include SK Global Entertainment’s Sidney Kimmel, Brian Kornreich, and Jo Henriquez, for OBB Pictures, Scott Ratner, and for Avocados and Coconuts, Amani King, along with Lucy Walker.
“Woman of the Hour”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Netflix
Date Acquired: Sept. 11
Netflix in the first major deal out of the festival picked up U.S. rights and other key territories to Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut, a period true-crime thriller called “Woman of the Hour.” An individual with knowledge of the sale told IndieWire the deal was for $11 million. Deadline first reported the news.
The film is the true story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer who appeared on — and won — an episode of the ’70s TV matchmaking game show “The Dating Game.” Daniel Zovatto stars as Alcala, while Kendrick also stars as his unsuspecting match. Kathryn Gallagher, Nicolette Robinson, Kelley Jakle, Autumn Best, Pete Holmes, and Tony Hale also co-star.
“Woman of the Hour” is based on a script by Ian McDonald that landed on The Black List. It’s produced by Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon alongside BoulderLight’s JD Lifshitz and Raphael Margueles. Executive producers are Stuart Ford, Zach Garrett, Miguel A. Palos, Jr., Anna Kendrick, Ian McDonald, Joe Penna, Paul Barbeau, Sean Patrick O’Reilly, Matthew Helderman, Luke Taylor, Andrew Deane, and Stephen Crawford.
“Sorry/Not Sorry”
Section: TIFF Docs
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Date Acquired: Sept. 11
The Louis C.K. documentary “Sorry/Not Sorry” produced by The New York Times was acquired by Greenwich Entertainment for North American rights following its TIFF Docs world premiere on Sunday. The film from directors Caroline Suh (“Working: What We Do All Day”) and Cara Mones (“Blackpink: Light Up the Sky”) examines how the comedian C.K. made a comeback to the stage and even won a Grammy, all after he admitted to sexual harassment in a New York Times article in 2017.
The film was produced by The New York Times and Left/Right. The New York Times journalists Melena Ryzik, Cara Buckley, and Jodi Kantor served as consulting producers. Suh and Mones also produced with Kathleen Lingo for The New York Times. Executive producers are Sam Dolnick, Jason Stallman, Ken Druckerman, and Banks Tarver.
Greenwich’s Andy Bohn negotiated the acquisition with CAA Media Finance on behalf of The New York Times
“Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World”
Section: Wavelengths
Distributor: MUBI
Date Acquired: Sept. 8
MUBI has acquired Locarno Special Jury Prize winner “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World,” the latest from “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn” director Radu Jude. It’s already been selected as Romania’s Oscar submission. MUBI picked up U.S. theatrical and streaming rights and select streaming rights in other territories.
The film is an absurdist comedy set in two parts about the director of a work safety video and the video’s star who was in fact injured on the job because of the company’s negligence, sparking a scandal that forces the man to change his statement.
“The Crow”
Section: Market
Distributor: Lionsgate
Date Acquired: Sept. 7
In a deal made ahead of the TIFF market kicking off, Lionsgate has swooped in to acquire the U.S. theatrical rights to the remake of the 1994 cult classic “The Crow” with the late Brandon Lee. The remake stars Bill Skarsgård, FKA twigs, and Danny Huston and is directed by Rupert Sanders. The studio plans to release it next year.
Deadline, which first reported the news, said the sale was an 8-figure deal. CAA Media Finance handled the sale.
The revenge film is based on the graphic novel by James O’Barr from 1989. Zach Baylin (“Creed III,” “King Richard”) and Will Schneider wrote the adaptation. “The Crow” is produced by Victor Hadida, John Jencks, the late Samuel Hadida, and the late Edward R. Pressman. The production companies are Davis Films, Hassell Free Productions, Electric Shadow Company, and Pressman Film, now led by Sam Pressman. The film was shot on location in Prague and Munich.
“Fackham Hall”
Section: Market
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Date Acquired: Sept. 7
Bleecker Street has acquired the rights to an upcoming British period comedy film called “Fackham Hall” that has attached Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Thomasin McKenzie, Katherine Waterston, and Emma Laird. The film will begin principal photography in the UK early next year, and Bleecker Street will release it theatrically in the U.S.
“Fackham Hall” will be directed by Jim O’Hanlon (“Catastrophe,” “Trying”) and is written by Jimmy Carr, Patrick Carr, and the Dawson Brothers. The film is intended to be a spoof comedy send up of period dramas like “Downton Abbey” and “Gosford Park.” The film follows the unlikely relationship between a new porter and the youngest daughter of a prominent family after the epic failure of the eldest daughter’s wedding.
“Fackham Hall” is an Equity production, is being produced by Kris Thykier and Danny Perkins under their label Mews Films. Bleecker Street’s Andrew Karpen and Kent Sanderson are executive producing alongside Anonymous Content’s Nick Shumaker, David Levine, Jimmy Carr, and Patrick Carr. The deal was negotiated by Kent Sanderson and Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street with Anonymous Content and CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.
“Trailer of a Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars”
Section: TIFF Wavelengths
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Date Acquired: Sept. 6
French New Wave master Jean-Luc Godard’s final work, a short film titled “Trailer of a Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars,” has been acquired for North American distribution rights by Kino Lorber, which plans to release it theatrically this fall followed by a run at New York’s Film Forum in December.
The 20-minute short film originally screened at Cannes and will next play Toronto in the Wavelengths section alongside works by Chantal Akerman and Pedro Costa, and it will also screen at the New York Film Festival.
Kino Lorber also acquired the North American rights to the documentary “Godard Cinema” from director Cyril Leuthy, which will screen at Film Forum and theatrically alongside “Phony Wars.”
Godard’s final, posthumous work “Phony Wars” is a collection of ideas, references, visuals, and notes from his own archives assembled into a mixed-media collage of history, politics, and cinema that gets inside Godard’s genius. The short is the culmination of an uncompleted feature project Godard was working on before his death in September 2022.
Godard wrote the film in collaboration with Jean-Paul Battaggia, Fabrice Aragno and Nicole Brenez. The film is produced by Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent and Gary Farkas, Olivier Muller, and Clément Lepoutre for Vixens, and co-produced by L’Atelier. The deal for “Trailer of a Film That Will Never Exist: Phony Wars” was negotiated by Kino Lorber Senior Vice President Wendy Lidell and Eva Diederix of Goodfellas.
“Origin”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Neon
Date Acquired: Sept. 5
Neon with a competitive bid landed Ava DuVernay’s film “Origin” ahead of its Venice world premiere and announced along with a teaser that it will release the racial drama theatrically later this year.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor stars in “Origin” as Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson, who wrote the seminal non-fiction book “Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents.” The book compares racism in America to the caste systems of both India and Nazi Germany and examines how hierarchy, inclusion, and exclusion have shaped our society’s views on race. The film stars Ellis-Taylor as Wilkerson as she grapples with a personal tragedy and sets herself on the path to write the book, finding beauty and bravery along the way.
Jon Bernthal, Niecy Nash-Betts, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Nick Offerman, Blair Underwood, Finn Wittrock, Jasmine Cephas-Jones, and Connie Nielsen also star in the film, which was written, directed, and produced by DuVernay through her ARRAY Filmworks banner. Paul Garnes also produced. The deal was negotiated by Tom Quinn for NEON with CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.
Movies Acquired After Lineups Announced
“Infested” (Previously “Vermin”)
Section: Venice Out of Competition
Distributor: Shudder
Date Acquired: August 24
Sébastien Vanicek directed and co-wrote this French horror debut feature about a venomous spider that escapes and multiplies, trapping its unsuspecting new owner. Théo Christine, Finnegan Oldfield, Jérôme Niel, Sofia Lesaffre, and Lisa Nyarko star in the film.
Shudder will release “Infested” on its streaming service in 2024 following a competition slot at Fantastic Fest later this year. The deal was negotiated by Charades and WTFilms on behalf of the filmmakers and Emily Gotto on behalf of Shudder.
“Inshallah A Boy”
Section: TIFF Centerpiece
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Date Acquired: August 21
The directorial debut of Jordanian director Amjad Al Rasheed follows the story of a mother and her daughter who face destitution after the mother’s husband suddenly passes away — unless she can give birth to a boy.
The film premiered at Cannes in the festival’s Critics’ Week, and Greenwich Entertainment picked up U.S. rights for a release in January following its North American TIFF premiere.
“Housekeeping for Beginners”
Section: Venice Horizons
Distributor: Focus Features
Date Acquired: August 15
Goran Stolevski directs this film about a woman reluctantly forced to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters, a young troublemaker and a rebellious teenager, butting heads and becoming an unlikely family along the way. The film stars Anamaria Marinca, Alina Serban, Samson Selim, Vladimir Tintor, Mia Mustafa, Dzada Selim, Sara Klimoska, Rozafë Çelaj, and Ajse Useini.
No release plans have been set. The deal was negotiated by Jan Naszewski and Katarzyna Siniarska on behalf of New Europe Film Sales
“Evil Does Not Exist”
Section: Venice Competition/TIFF Special Presentation
Distributor: Janus Films and Sideshow
Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s follow-up to “Drive My Car” landed with the same distributors that launched that film to a Best Picture nomination. It will be released in 2023 following a festival run but does not have a release date.
“Evil Does Not Exist” follows a glamping community that sets up in a small village outside Tokyo, causing unrest among the locals and impacting the town’s ecological balance. The film stars Hitoshi Omika, Ryo Nishikawa, Ryuji Kosaka, and Ayaka Shibutani.
“Riddle of Fire”
Section: TIFF Midnight Madness
Distributor: Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome
Date Acquired: August 7
Originally debuting at Cannes’ Directors Fortnight, “Riddle of Fire” is an adventure film following mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks them to run an errand. Director Weston Razooli shot the film on 16mm.
“Riddle of Fire” will be released theatrically in early 2024 with a 35mm print touring several cities, and the distributors aim to release other merchandise and board games tied to the film.
The deal was negotiated by Hugues Barbier, Justin Timms, and Joe Yanick on behalf of Yellow Veil Pictures and Justin LaLiberty on behalf of Vinegar Syndrome with Shane Kelly, Mister Smith’s Vice President, International Sales & Distribution, on behalf of Mister Smith Entertainment and the filmmakers.
Movies Arriving with Distribution in Place
[Editors note: The below are movies making world premieres at Venice, Telluride, and/or TIFF.]
“Ferrari”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Neon
Michael Mann’s biopic of the famed car designer Enzo Ferrari stars Adam Driver, Penelopé Cruz, and Shailene Woodley. Neon acquired it in June, and the film already trotted out cast to Venice along with an interim agreement.
“El Conde”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Netflix
Pablo Larrain directs this (literally) biting, gothic satire that imagines Chilean dictator Agosto Pinochet as a blood-sucking vampire. The film launches on Netflix September 15 after a brief theatrical run one week earlier.
“The Killer”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Netflix
David Fincher’s thriller stars Michael Fassbender as a hitman having a psychological crisis. Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, and Sophie Charlotte also star. The film launches on Netflix November 10 and in theaters October 27.
“Maestro”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Netflix
Bradley Cooper’s Leonard Bernstein biopic that he directed and starred in (prosthetic nose and all) figures to be a major Oscar contender. It opens on Netflix December 20 and in theaters November 22.
“Poor Things”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Yorgos Lanthimos’ blend of romance and sci-fi stars Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, and Ramy Youssef. It hits theaters December 8.
“Priscilla”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: A24
Sofia Coppola directs this biopic focused on Elvis’ wife, with Cailee Spaney as Priscilla Presley and Jacob Elordi as The King. It opens October 6.
“The Promised Land”
Section: Venice Competition
Distributor: Magnolia
Nikolaj Arcel’s historical epic about a Danish conqueror fighting the elements stars Mads Mikkelsen.
“The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”
Section: Venice Out of Competition
Distributor: Republic Pictures for Showtime
What is now William Friedkin’s final film stars Kiefer Sutherland and is a new take on “The Caine Mutiny” military courtroom drama that originally starred Humphrey Bogart. The film will debut on Paramount+ with Showtime on October 6 and on the linear Showtime channel on October 8.
“Gasoline Rainbow”
Section: Venice Horizons
Distributor: MUBI
The “Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets” team comes to Venice with another genre-bending documentary blended with more surreal elements as a group of small-town Oregon teenagers embark on a journey across the American West to reach “The Party at the End of the World” over 500 miles away. MUBI is planning a 2024 theatrical release.
“Fingernails”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: Apple TV+
“The Bear’s” Jeremy Allen White, Riz Ahmed, and Jessie Buckley star in this sci-fi romance from director Christos Nikou. It opens November 3.
“High & Low: John Galliano”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: MUBI
Acquired out of the Cannes market, Kevin Macdonald (“The Last King of Scotland”) directs this documentary about fashion designer John Galliano, whose career was derailed after being caught using anti-semitic slurs.
“The Holdovers”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: Focus Features
Alexander Payne’s reunion with Paul Giamatti screened only in secret at last year’s TIFF and was the largest sale by far, selling to Focus Features for $30 million. It opens in theaters November 10.
“Janet Planet”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: A24
Director-writer Annie Baker makes her debut with this drama about 11-year-old Lacy, her mother Janet, and the three people who come into their lives over one summer in 1991 in Western Massachusetts.
“Nyad”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: Netflix
Annette Bening stars as world-class swimmer Diane Nyad, who aimed to become the first person to swim between Florida and Cuba without the aid of a shark cage, all at age 60. The film is directed by “Free Solo” directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin.
“The Royal Hotel”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: Neon
Kitty Green’s latest reunites her with Julia Garner for a thriller about backpackers in Australia confronted with a group of unruly locals and a dangerous situation gone wrong.
“Rustin”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: Netflix
Colman Domingo stars in George C. Wolfe’s biopic on the life of Bayard Rustin, an activist who organized the 1963 March on Washington during the Civil Rights movement. It opens in theaters November 3 and on Netflix November 17.
“Saltburn”
Section: Telluride
Distributor: Amazon/MGM
Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi star in Emerald Fennell’s follow-up to “Promising Young Woman,” a decadent commentary on the upper class lifestyle. It opens in theaters November 24.
“The Boy and the Heron”
Section: TIFF Gala Presentations
Distributor: GKIDS
Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki directs what is likely his final film about a teenage boy who enters a magical world and encounters a talking gray heron.
“Dumb Money”
Section: TIFF Gala Presentations
Distributor: Sony
Craig Gillespie (“I, Tonya”) directs the true story of how amateur investors on Reddit bested Wall Street and turned GameStop into a “meme stock.” Paul Dano leads the cast, and the film opens in theaters October 6.
“Finestkind”
Section: TIFF Gala Presentations
Distributor: Paramount+
“Finestkind” stars Ben Foster and Toby Wallace as estranged brothers who hatch a deal with a Boston crime syndicate after their debts begin to pile up. Tommy Lee Jones and Jenna Ortega also star in Brian Helgeland’s crime drama.
“Sly”
Section: TIFF Gala Presentations
Distributor: Netflix
Sylvester Stallone gets his own biographical documentary from director Thom Zimny. It hits Netflix November 3.
“American Fiction”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Amazon/MGM
Based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett, Jeffrey Wright stars in Cord Jefferson’s satire as an author who finds wild success writing a book based on every Black cliché he can think of.
“The Burial”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Amazon/MGM
Tommy Lee Jones and Jamie Foxx star in this courtroom drama from director Maggie Betts that is based on a true story.
“Next Goal Wins”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Taika Waititi’s long-awaited dramedy stars Michael Fassbender as the new coach of a hopeless American Samoa soccer team that famously lost a match 31-0.
“Pain Hustlers”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Netflix
Emily Blunt and Chris Evans star in this film from David Yates about a bankrupt pharmacist who gets entangled in a criminal conspiracy.
“Quiz Lady”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Hulu
Awkwafina and Sandra Oh star as sisters who have to pay off their mother’s gambling debts by going on a quiz game show. Jessica Yu directs the film that also stars Will Ferrell and Jason Schwartzman.
“Reptile”
Section: TIFF Special Presentations
Distributor: Netflix
Benicio Del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone star in this noir in which, Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and by doing so dismantles the illusions in his own life. It opens September 29 in theaters and October 6 on Netflix
“Irena’s Vow”
Section: TIFF Centerpiece
Distributor: Quiver Distribution
“Irena’s Vow” is a Canadian and Polish Holocaust drama about a nurse forced to work under Nazi officers who manages to rescue over a dozen Jewish refugees. Sophie Nélisse stars.
“Silver Dollar Road”
Section: TIFF Docs
Distributor: Amazon Studios
“I Am Not Your Negro” director Raoul Peck directs this latest documentary about a Black family in North Carolina that battles decades of harassment by land developers trying to seize their waterfront property.
“Stamped From the Beginning”
Section: TIFF Docs
Distributor: Netflix
Roger Ross Williams‘ documentary brings to the screen Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s 2016 book about the influence of anti-Black racist ideas throughout American history. It hits Netflix November 15.
“Dream Scenario”
Section: TIFF Platform
Distributor: A24
Kristoffer Borgli directs Nicolas Cage as a hapless family man who finds his life turned upside down when millions of strangers start seeing him in their dreams. The film is an offbeat comedy and is produced by Ari Aster.
“Dicks: The Musical”
Section: TIFF Midnight Madness
Distributor: A24
Larry Charles (“Seinfeld,” “Borat”) directs this “depraved” musical comedy that is a twist on “The Parent Trap.” It stars Megan Thee Stallion, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, and Bowen Yang as God.
“When Evil Lurks”
Section: TIFF Midnight Madness
Distributor: Shudder
“When Evil Lurks” is a “rural possession thriller” directed by “Terrified” director Demian Rugna.
