For a market that is supposed to be flat, there are a number of U.S. film acquisitions made in the month of March, not to mention February. If there's no money, are these companies acquiring them for no mgs? The films are also holding up surprisingly well in theaters which bodes well for future sales of independent films into the coming year. Rumblings from venture capital waiting in the wings to begin investing again are also heard. I predict 2010 will be the year of the turnaround when the buying cycle begins again. Meanwhile there are some bargains to be had. Also notable are the key festivals where these films have all shown.
Amreeka was acquired by National Geographic and will open New Directors/ New Films. It showed as a work in progress at the Dubai Film Festival and went from there to its world premiere at Sundance. William Morris Independent brokered the deal on behalf of E1 Entertainment which has acquired Charlotte Mickie's and Robert Lantos' Maximum as well as U.K. distribtution company Contender all of which are very notable moves in the industry.
Afghan Star which showed at IDFA went to ZeitgeistZeitgeist[/link] for U.S. It was the Sundance World Doc winner of both Best Director and Audience Awards. Earlier this month they acquired Three Monkeys from the bankrupt New Yorker whose auction earlier this month found no takers. So its catalog still resides with its creditor Technicolor.
Nowhere Boy went to The Weinstein Co. for U.S., Latin America and German speaking territories from Hanway.
The Greatest went to Senator for North America who saw it at Sundance. It was repped by Graham Taylor of Endeavor and CAA on behalf of the filmmakers.
Paranoids went to Oscilloscope from Visit Films for North America just before its SXSW premiere. The Toronto and Berlin film of Fortissimo, Unmistaken Child, went earlier to Oscilloscope for North America. Earlier in the month Oscilloscope acquired Burma VJ and The Garden.
B-Side acquired its first film for U.S., RiP: A Remix Manifesto before its SXSW screening. Disinformation will release it on DVD. In Canada Eye Steele and National Film Board of Canada will partner with B-Side on its release there.
One of several new U.S. distributors, Trela Media, acquired its first of 6 envisioned yearly acquisitions, Guest of Cindy Sherman which has played in several festivals already for North America.
Another new and innovative U.S. distribution configuration of Variance Films, Elementary Films and Argyle Productons will will release the Hot Docs, Hamptons and Margaret Mead festival film Nursery University in April 2009 in New York.
Lorber HT Digital acquired Intangible Asset #82 before it SXSW premiere and Nollywood Babylon which showed in Toronto and Sundance for North America.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil was acquired by VH1 for North America.
Strand acquied U.S. rights to The Headless Woman from Focus. It had been named one of the best as yet undistributed films of 2008 by IndieWIRE after its premier in Cannes last year.
First Run acquired Four Seasons Lodge by Albert Maysles and a handpicked team for U.S.
Wolfe acquired Pedro for DVD and VOD, and MTV acquired TV rights in North America. Produced by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland for U.S., it premiered in Toronto.
The Cove which premiered in Sundance and was acquired for world sales by The Works went to Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and Participant for U.S. The deal was made with William Morris Indendent and Submarine.
Alive Mind, Richard Lorber's intellectual, spiritual and alternative distribution outfit acquired North American rights to Theater of War.
Film Movement acquired North American rights to Munyurangabo from Umedia after its festival screenings in Cannes' Un Certain Regard, Berlin, Toronto and New Directors/ New Films. It premiered at Slamdance.
Regent acquired worldwide rights excluding North America to Weather Girl from Submarine Entertainment.
Amreeka was acquired by National Geographic and will open New Directors/ New Films. It showed as a work in progress at the Dubai Film Festival and went from there to its world premiere at Sundance. William Morris Independent brokered the deal on behalf of E1 Entertainment which has acquired Charlotte Mickie's and Robert Lantos' Maximum as well as U.K. distribtution company Contender all of which are very notable moves in the industry.
Afghan Star which showed at IDFA went to ZeitgeistZeitgeist[/link] for U.S. It was the Sundance World Doc winner of both Best Director and Audience Awards. Earlier this month they acquired Three Monkeys from the bankrupt New Yorker whose auction earlier this month found no takers. So its catalog still resides with its creditor Technicolor.
Nowhere Boy went to The Weinstein Co. for U.S., Latin America and German speaking territories from Hanway.
The Greatest went to Senator for North America who saw it at Sundance. It was repped by Graham Taylor of Endeavor and CAA on behalf of the filmmakers.
Paranoids went to Oscilloscope from Visit Films for North America just before its SXSW premiere. The Toronto and Berlin film of Fortissimo, Unmistaken Child, went earlier to Oscilloscope for North America. Earlier in the month Oscilloscope acquired Burma VJ and The Garden.
B-Side acquired its first film for U.S., RiP: A Remix Manifesto before its SXSW screening. Disinformation will release it on DVD. In Canada Eye Steele and National Film Board of Canada will partner with B-Side on its release there.
One of several new U.S. distributors, Trela Media, acquired its first of 6 envisioned yearly acquisitions, Guest of Cindy Sherman which has played in several festivals already for North America.
Another new and innovative U.S. distribution configuration of Variance Films, Elementary Films and Argyle Productons will will release the Hot Docs, Hamptons and Margaret Mead festival film Nursery University in April 2009 in New York.
Lorber HT Digital acquired Intangible Asset #82 before it SXSW premiere and Nollywood Babylon which showed in Toronto and Sundance for North America.
Anvil! The Story of Anvil was acquired by VH1 for North America.
Strand acquied U.S. rights to The Headless Woman from Focus. It had been named one of the best as yet undistributed films of 2008 by IndieWIRE after its premier in Cannes last year.
First Run acquired Four Seasons Lodge by Albert Maysles and a handpicked team for U.S.
Wolfe acquired Pedro for DVD and VOD, and MTV acquired TV rights in North America. Produced by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland for U.S., it premiered in Toronto.
The Cove which premiered in Sundance and was acquired for world sales by The Works went to Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and Participant for U.S. The deal was made with William Morris Indendent and Submarine.
Alive Mind, Richard Lorber's intellectual, spiritual and alternative distribution outfit acquired North American rights to Theater of War.
Film Movement acquired North American rights to Munyurangabo from Umedia after its festival screenings in Cannes' Un Certain Regard, Berlin, Toronto and New Directors/ New Films. It premiered at Slamdance.
Regent acquired worldwide rights excluding North America to Weather Girl from Submarine Entertainment.
- 3/23/2009
- Sydney's Buzz
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.