Three Docs Snapped Up By Three Small Indie Distribs

by Mark Rabinowitz

A trio of acclaimed documentaries have been acquired by small indie distributors, with award winners "Out of the Past" and "Hands on a Hardbody," and Nick Broomfield's controversial doc "Kurt and Courtney" all getting tabbed for theatrical release. "Past" was nabbed by New York-based Unapix Films, "Hardbody" by L.A.-based Legacy Releasing and "Kurt" was picked up by San Francisco indie distributor, Roxie Releasing, the distribution arm of the renowned San Francisco arthouse, The Roxie Cinema.

The Broomfield doc has received by far the most attention, having been removed from the lineup of this year's Sundance Film Festival due to protracted legal difficulties regarding music used in the film. It was eventually screened at a private midnight sneak screening at the Elks Lodge in Park City. The Roxie Cinema was in fact the first theatrical playdate for the film, and Roxie Releasing made the decision during its run at the Roxie theater. indieWIRE spoke by telephone with Roxie spokesperson Elliot Lavine who told us that after opening the film in Seattle on this Friday, the film would then move to Portland, Oregon on the 10th, Los Angeles on the 17th and "hopefully the 24th in New York...other cities like Denver, Boston, Chicago, Detroit will all be forthcoming." The cut of the film has been cleaned up since its screening in Park City, according to Lavine, with Broomfield having "substituted different music and he had to alter the voiceover narration that accompanied those scenes in the first place." Roxie releases from one to two films per year, with past titles including John Dahl's "Red Rock West" and Susanne Ofteringer's "Nico Icon." When asked about Roxie's upcoming release plans, Lavine remarked that they would like to increase the number of films they release. "If this experience with this film allows for us to do that, then sure, we would try to jump on as many interesting titles as we could."

S. Robb Bindler's "Hands on a Hardbody," a documentary about a contest in which the winners come away with a brand-new "Nissan Hardbody" pickup truck, is the latest pickup from Legacy, whose previous titles include "A Rat's Tale," 1997 Sundance pic "Eden" (opening Friday in New York City) and 1996 Sundance pic, "Wedding Bell Blues." Legacy releases approximately nine to ten films per year, and they have not set a release date for "Hardbody." The doc is set to screen at the upcoming Gen Art Film Festival in New York City.

News » Oscar Shortlist Features » Burton MoMA News » Sundance '10

Jeffrey Dupre's Sundance documentary Audience Award winner "Out of the Past" was picked up by Unapix Films, which acquired both theatrical and home video rights to the pic. The film "traces the emergence of gay and lesbian consciousness in American history" by focusing on the life of 17 year-old Kelli Peterson and her efforts to establish a Gay-Straight Alliance at her Salt Lake City high school. The film is narrated in part by actors Gwyneth Paltrow and Edward Norton, with commentary by contemporary figures such as gay-rights leader Henry Gerber and civil rights activist Bayard Rustin round out the film. Zeitgeist Films will be distributing the film theatrically for Unapix. Login to recommend this article » posted on April 2, 1998 Films to Snag Login to Leave a Comment »