Thompson on Hollywood

Sundance Talk: Festival Buzz

Festivals

This Sundance I dragooned New York-based Screen critic David D'Arcy into sharing his Sundance experience with us via Podcast. The first is a round-up of what we've seen and hear buzz about. We'll reconnoiter again for a wrap-up. Check back on Monday.

By Anne Thompson
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January 27, 2012 3:54 PM
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Sundance Selects Acquires AIDS Doc "How to Survive a Plague"

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Sundance Selects is acquiring the North American rights to the AIDS documentary "How to Survive a Plague," the company announced today at the Sundance festival.

By Jacob Combs
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January 26, 2012 11:23 PM
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Sundance News: Entertainment One Acquires Psychological Thriller 'Wish You Were Here'

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Entertainment One has purchased North American rights to the Australian Sundance opener "Wish You Were Here." Directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith, the mystery thriller stars Joel Edgerton ("Warrior" and Baz Luhrmann's upcoming "The Great Gatsby"). The movie will most likely be released in Fall of 2012. "Wish You Were Here" depicts what happens to three friends after one goes missing on a trip to Cambodia. It was criticized for weak plotting, but praised for its performances and production value.

By Maggie Lange
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January 26, 2012 10:33 PM
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Sundance Reviews: Lean Mean 'Bachelorette' Shocks Festival, Too Hard or Too Soft?

Festivals

Sundance comedy "Bachelorette" boasts an all-star girl comedy-pack: Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, and Isla Fisher. They play a hard-drinking and drugging trio who are horrified that their pudgiest gal pal (Aussie comedienne Rebel Wilson) is the first of their high school gang to get married.

By Anne Thompson
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January 26, 2012 10:28 PM
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Sundance Deal Update: 'Simon Killer,' 'Chasing Ice,' 'The Pact'

Festivals

With many of the biggest buyers heading home with depleted wallets, smaller deals are playing out. IFC Films is in final talks to acquire "Simon Killer," a psychological drama; this is IFC's second acquisition after writer-director-actor Josh Radnor's "Liberal Arts."

By Nora Chute
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January 26, 2012 6:08 PM
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Sundance Deal: Sony Worldwide Partners with Goldwyn for 'Robot & Frank'

Festivals

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions and Samuel Goldwyn Films have partnered to acquire North American rights to rookie Jake Schreier's "Robot and Frank," which had its world premiere Friday in Salt Lake City, then played at the Eccles Theatre Saturday night. The movie stars Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking"), James Marsden (Sundance comedy "Bachelorette"), Liv Tyler and Peter Saarsgard ("Shattered Glass"). Additionally, SPWA has acquired all media rights for Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe including Russia. New Sony acquisitions exec Joe Matukewicz had been tracking the film from the script stage, he said. “This winning film strikes a special chord with audiences... Jake’s film shows us a future that is right around the corner, and I for one, can’t wait for my own Robot!”

By Anne Thompson
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January 26, 2012 12:50 AM
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Sundance Deal: The Story Behind 'Arbitrage' and Its Sale to Lionsgate/Roadside

Festivals

Park City, Utah...Marking their first acquisition of the Sundance Film Festival, Lionsgate and Roadside acquired U.S. distribution rights for about $2 million to Nicholas Jarecki's "Arbitrage," starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth and Brit Marling. There had been some speculation that the recent Lionsgate/Summit merger would have some impact on the company's buying appetite, but they were in the hunt, and Roadside Attractions' Howard Cohen, celebrating three Oscar nominations for "Albert Nobbs" and one for "Margin Call" (partnered with Lionsgate), was in good spirits at the Cinetic party at the Bing Bar Tuesday night.

By Anne Thompson
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January 25, 2012 9:14 PM
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Sundance Reviews: Sony Pictures Classics Pick-Up 'Celeste & Jesse Forever'

Festivals

Sony Picture Classics has acquired all North American, Latin American, and Eastern European rights to Sundance Premiere title "Celeste & Jesse Forever."

By Nora Chute
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January 24, 2012 6:09 PM
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Focus Acquires Raunchy Comedy 'For a Good Time, Call...'

News

Focus Features made its first buy at Sundance today, paying some $2 million to beat out rival bidders to acquire worldwide rights to first-time director Jamie Travis's "For a Good Time, Call..." The film, which had its world premiere this week in Park City, is a timely comedy about two young women with little in common who room together in New York. When the reserved Lauren finds out that Katie, her roommate, works part-time as a phone-sex operator, the two strike up a friendship and a business partnership to boot, starting their own 1-900 business.