There are few acquisition festivals quite like Sundance, where movies enter as unknowns and leave as Oscar hopefuls with million-dollar deals backing them. 2018 titles that went on to critical and financial success included “Searching,” “Sorry to Bother You,” “Eighth Grade,” and “Blindspotting”; though not as high-profile as the likes of “Call Me by Your Name” or “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” such films serve as a reminder of Park City’s importance in shaping the year in movies.
Running from January 24 – February 3 in Park City, Utah, this year’s edition of the festival is sure to produce a number of buzzworthy offerings. Here’s our constantly updated compendium of every Sundance 2019 acquisition.
“Shooting the Mafia”
“Shooting the Mafia”
Buyer: Cohen Media Group
Section: World Documentary Competition
“Kim Longinotto’s film is a stirring tribute to the remarkable Letizia Battaglia, who put herself at great personal risk to document appalling crime and its victims,” said CMG’s Charles C. Cohen.
“Honeyland”
“Honeyland”
Buyer: Neon
Section: World Documentary Competition
“’Honeyland’ began as just another simple story, but it grew to become so much more,” said co-directors Ljubomir Stefanov and Tamara Kotevska. “We are so proud of the final film, and there is no better way to get immersed in it than to experience it on the big screen. Thank you, NEON, for the opportunity to bring Honeyland to audiences the way we always wanted it to be seen.”
“Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love”
“Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love”
Buyer: Roadside Attractions
Section: Documentary Premieres
“Any Leonard Cohen fan can tell you that there’s something profoundly romantic about his music,” said Roadside Attractions co-founders Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, “While it’s hard to know what inspires great art, the extraordinary love story between Marianne and Leonard comes to life in Nick’s film in a way that will inspire everyone who sees it.”
“Sea of Shadows”
“Sea of Shadows”
Terra Mater Factual Studios
Buyer: National Geographic Documentary Films
Section: World Cinema Documentary Competition
“What is happening in Mexico is yet another example of human-caused devastation due to the greed of a few,” said director Richard Ladkani. “My hope is that this film can raise awareness and help save this precious ecosystem. I could not ask for a better partner in that goal than National Geographic.”
“Official Secrets”
Official Secrets
Buyer: IFC Films
Section: Premieres
“Honey Boy”
“Honey Boy”
Buyer: Amazon
Section: U.S. Dramatic Competition
“Luce”
“Luce”
Buyer: Neon and Topic Studios
Section: U.S. Dramatic Competition
“The Mountain”
Tye Sheridan and Jeff Goldblum in “The Mountain”
Buyer: Kino Lorber
Section: Spotlight
“Brittany Runs a Marathon”
“Brittany Runs a Marathon”
Jon Pack / Sundance
Buyer: Amazon
Section: U.S. Dramatic Competition
“Merata”
Buyer: Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY
Section: Documentary Premieres
“David Crosby: Remember My Name”
David Crosby at the IndieWire Studio
IndieWire
Buyer: Sony Pictures Classics
Section: U.S. Documentary Competition
“Hala”
Buyer: Apple
Section: U.S. Drama
“Little Monsters”
“Little Monsters”
Buyer: Neon/Hulu
Section: Midnight
“Share”
Buyer: HBO Films
Section: Shorts
“The Report”
“The Report”
Atsushi Nishijima
Buyer: Amazon Studios
Section: Premieres
“The Lodge”
“The Lodge”
Buyer: Neon
Section: Midnight
Read More: Documentaries Could Sell Big at Sundance 2019, But Buyers Should Exercise Caution
“Where’s My Roy Cohn?”
“Where’s My Roy Cohn?”
Buyer: Sony Pictures Classics
Section: U.S. Documentary
“The Farewell”
“The Farewell”
A24
Buyer: A24
Section: U.S. Drama
“Monos”
“Monos”
Buyer: Neon
Section: World Drama
“Making ‘Monos’ was a life-changing adventure for myself and the team,” director Alejandro Landes said. “We could not be more excited by the reception at Sundance and the fact that Neon showed so much passion and understanding for the spirit of the film. We all look forward to collaborating with them on the release in the U.S.”
“The Dispossessed”
Buyer: New York Times Op-Docs
Section: Shorts
“Late Night”
“Late Night”
Buyer: Amazon Studios ($13 million)
Section: Premieres
“Lavender”
Buyer: Fox Searchlight
Section: Shorts
“We are always looking for fresh filmmaking talents, and the short film world led us to a talented director in Matthew Puccini,” said Nancy Utley and Stephen Gilula. “Matthew’s film ‘Lavender’ is a work of great beauty and resonance, and showcases a personal voice from and about the LGBTQ community. We enthusiastically welcome him to the Searchlight family of filmmakers.”
“The Souvenir”
“The Souvenir”
Agatha A. Nitecka
Buyer: A24
Section: World Drama
“Each of Joanna [Hogg]’s films has a mesmerizing power and uncommon intimacy, and ‘The Souvenir’ shows a filmmaker at the height of her craft,” A24 said in a release announcing the deal. “The film brilliantly captures the heady, formative days of first love and a young woman’s efforts to give shape to her art, and we could not be more excited to bring ‘The Souvenir’ to a wide audience.”
“Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men”
Buyer: Showtime
Section: Indie Episodic
“Wu-Tang Clan is a seminal group that deserves a seminal documentary,” said Vinnie Malhotra, EVP Nonfiction Programming at Showtime Networks. “Sacha Jenkins delivers just that, not only reminding us of their powerful history through vintage footage, but also placing their impact in modern-day perspective that will be meaningful both to their diehard fans and music fans in general.”
“The Tomorrow Man”
Buyers: Bleecker Street (domestic), Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (foreign)
Section: Premieres
“Noble Jones has created a uniquely charming love story between master actors John Lithgow and Blythe Danner,” Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen said. “I’m thrilled to be working with my old colleague James Schamus and the team at Anonymous Content.”
“The Brink”
Buyer: Magnolia Pictures
Section: Documentary Premieres
“Alison Klayman and producer Marie Therese Guirgis have pulled off an amazing achievement, going behind the scenes of a historic political and cultural moment and capturing it with both true artistry and import,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “‘The Brink’ must be seen by all who care about the dynamics of where our world is heading.”
“Delhi Crime Story”
Netflix / Ivanhoe Pictures
“Delhi Crime Story”
Buyer: Netflix
Section: Indie Episodic
“Delhi Crime Story” tracks a “crime that took the city to the brink,” and it’s easy to believe a tipping point is unavoidable after two episodes. Detailed, tightly paced, and intense in subject matter and attitude, the dark, shadowy streets of Delhi are captured in vivid, unblinking detail; Mehta efficiently introduces a foreign land and makes it relatable, familiar, and terrifying all at once. But beware a binge — the story’s potency isn’t easily digested.
“Quarter Life Poetry”
Buyer: FX
Section: Indie Episodic
“Quarter Life Poetry” is created and written by Samantha Jayne, who also serves as executive producer. It’s directed by Arturo Perez Jr. It is produced by FXP and Area 64, and executive produced by Anonymous Content (Nina Soriano and Jacob Perlin) and Area 64 (Alex Sanchez) for FX Networks.
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