Park City, Utah may feel like a long way away, but that is where the deals happen. Indie, and not so indie, filmmakers head to the Sundance Film Festival every January with the hope of signing a big-time distribution deal. Sundance 2013 is coming to a close and a number of deals have been made. Take a peak at the list below to see some of the films that premiered at Sundance that will soon make it to San Francisco theaters;
First time filmmaker, and Bay Area resident, Ryan Coogler brought the story of Oscar Grant to the big screen with "Fruitvale." Not only did Coogler take home the U.S. drama jury and audience awards, The Weinstein Company purchased distribution rights for the film.
"We Are What We Are" is an English version of the Mexican film from 2010. Director Jim Mickle amps up the gore in this film about a quite family hoping to keep their secrets hidden. Entertainment One picked up the U.S. rights to the film and expect to bring it to theatres by the end of the year.
Shortly after "Prince Avalanche" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival Magnolia Pictures had announced they acquired North American rights to the film. The film, starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch, is a buddy comedy that tells the tale of two coworkers that form an unlikely friendship while painting lane lines on a desolate highway.
Blumhouse Productions picked up the distribution rights for "Peachfuzz" based on the pre festival buzz around the film. Blumhouse Productions announced the acquisition of the film on the opening day of Sundance. The film, directed by Patrick Brice, falls into the 'found-footage' horror genre and tells the tale of a man that steps into more than he bargained for when answering a Craigslist ad.
Is there nothing Dave Grohl can't do? A founding member of Nirvana, he went on to form the Foo Fighters and now he can add director to his long list of accomplishments. The rockers documentary, "Sound City," premiered at Sundance and was immediately picked up for worldwide VOD distribution by Gravitas Ventures. The documentary shares the significance of the famed recording studio, Sound City, through interviews with artists that have shared the space. Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor, Lars Ulrich, and Mick Fleetwood share their Sound City experiences in the film.
Oscilloscope Laboratories picked up the North American rights to the film "Mother of George," part of the U.S. Dramatic Competition of Sundance 2013. Yaya Alafia and Tony Okungbowa co-star in the story of a woman that struggles to become pregnant after marriage.
The Weinstein Company made two big purchases at the festival this year. After picking up the opening night film, "20 Feet From Stardom," the Weinstein Company picked up "Concussion" in a seven figure deal. "Concussion," the directorial debut from Stacie Passon, examines the sexual revolution of a forty-something after she is knocked in the head by her son's baseball.
The story of Russian social activists and punk rockers Nadia, Masha and Katia came to the festival with the documentary "Pussy Riot; A Punk Prayer." The film has been picked up by HBO Documentary Films.
A24 purchased the North American rights for "The Spectacular Now," a film based on the Tim Tharp novel of the same name.
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