All articles tagged with #film acquisitions
Lionsgate has acquired the horror film 'Portrait of God' from emerging director Dylan Clark, securing a greenlight for production. The project features Chase Infiniti in the lead role and marks the first collaboration between producers Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele. The film is based on Clark's viral short, which has garnered over 10 million views on YouTube since 2022.
Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster have acquired the distribution rights to Joshua Giuliano’s debut feature 'River' for more than $10 million. The horror film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, was originally backed by Independent Film Company and Shudder. The deal marks a significant financial windfall for the indie studio and signals strong industry confidence in Giuliano, who is also set to direct 'Occupant' for the same studios. The acquisition follows a competitive bidding process involving Sony, Focus Features, and others, with the final price exceeding the $8 million bid from Sony.
Neon has acquired North American and English-language rights to Na Hong-jin’s sci-fi thriller Hope and will compete it in Cannes, expanding Neon’s competition slate to six titles. The feature, written and directed by Na, stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon, Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton, and follows a DMZ‑adjacent village where a tiger sighting forces a police chief to confront a terrifying reality. Produced by Na, Saemi Kim and Saerom Kim for Forged Films with Plus M Entertainment financing, the deal was negotiated by UTA Independent Film Group and Sarah Colvin for Neon.
Sumerian Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to Sundance’s Josephine in a seven-figure deal, securing a major theatrical release and an awards campaign. The Beth de Araújo drama stars Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan, centers on an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a crime, and will premiere at Sundance with a Berlin Film Festival competition bow to follow, signaling strong buzz for an indie hit and potential awards season momentum.
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival concluded with notable events including a $17 million Netflix acquisition, a pro-Palestine protest, and the debut of Malia Obama's short film. Standing ovations were a highlight, with films like A Real Pain and My Old Ass receiving enthusiastic responses. The festival also featured a strong focus on music, LGBTQ films, and appearances by industry heavyweights like Christopher Nolan and Jodie Foster. Discussions about the festival's future, including a potential move from Park City, were also a point of interest.
The 80th Venice Film Festival showcased a strong appetite for art house films, with enthusiastic reviews and multiple deals for buzzy titles. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) will be a stress test for the independent market, revealing the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strike and the future of midbudget movies. Lionsgate secured domestic rights to The Crow reboot in a significant deal, while TIFF remains a crucial platform for launching films into the North American market and attracting hesitant buyers. The outcome of the strikes and negotiations will determine the buying strategies of studios, streamers, and independent buyers at TIFF.