The Weinstein Company picks up Julian Schnabel's latest film 'Miral'!

Via Variety:

The Weinstein Co. has snagged North American rights to "Miral," the Julian Schnabel film toplined by Freida Pinto.

TWC aims to release the pic -- which some had expected to bow at Cannes, but now is tipped for an end-of-summer bow at Venice -- later this year, but has not set an exact date. Timing seems to suggest an awards push, given the high profile of its creatives and its politically charged subject matter.

Movie revolves around a real-life orphanage established in Jerusalem by Palestinian woman Hind Husseini (played by Hiam Abbass) following the 1948 creation of Israel. In the fictional storyline, the title character (Pinto) is sent to the orphanage in 1978. Later in life, she goes to teach at a refugee camp and falls for an activist.

Movie, which also stars Willem Dafoe and Vanessa Redgrave, is based on the novel by Rula Jebreal, who also penned the screenplay. Palestinian-born scribe is also a well-known broadcast news personality in Italy.

Produced by longtime Schnabel producer Jon Kilik, "Miral" reunites the helmer with the Weinstein brothers, who worked with the helmer on his first film, "Basquiat," when the duo topped Miramax. "Miral" is the first pickup for TWC in the wake of the company's reportedly stalled talks to acquire Miramax from Disney.

Pathe, which holds worldwide rights to the pic, has sold the movie in several other international territories.

Harvey Weinstein made the acquisition, in a deal brokered by TWC's Peter Lawson and Laine Kline and Pathe's Cameron McCracken and Pierre du Plessis.

"It is the first film I am involved in that shows the 'other side' of the Israel-Palestine conflict," Harvey Weinstein said. "As a staunch supporter of Israel, I thought this would be a movie I would have a hard time wrapping my head around. However, meeting Rula moved me to open my heart and mind and I hope we can do that same with audiences worldwide."

-The Brothers Weinstein are certainly gunning for an Oscar this year...thoughts?

IFC Films picks up 'Certified Copy', 'Heartbeats', and 'Prey' for release...

...showing that they're pretty busy at Cannes. Here's the story on the first flick from The Hollywood Reporter:

IFC has scored U.S. distribution rights for Abbas Kiarostami's Festival de Cannes Competition title "Certified Copy," the film's producer and sales agent MK2 confirmed Thursday.

MK2 followed up presales of the film to Australia, Scandinavia, Argentina, Korea and Hong Kong with sales to Australia/New Zealand (Madman), the Nordic countries (Atlantic Film), Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and South Cone (CDI Films), Korea (Yega Entertainment) and Hong Kong (First Distributors) after its official festival screening.

The film, released in Gaul via MK2 on Wednesday, boasted the best opening results ever for a film by Abbas Kiarostami in France with 11,000 tickets sold on its first day in theaters on 101 prints.

And here's what IFC had to say about the other two flicks:

HEARTBEATS is the second film in two years for Xavier Dolan at the Cannes Film Festival where his debut I KILLED MY MOTHER won three of the four awards out of Director’s Fortnight. The film tells the story of Francis (Dolan) and Marie (Monia Chokri) who are good friends. One night, they meet Nicolas (Niels Schneider), a young man from the country who has just settled in Montreal. From encounter to encounter, from moment to moment, troubled by innumerable signs — some real, some imagined — Francis and Marie fall deeper and deeper into a fantastical obsession with him. Soon, they find themsleves on the precipice of a love duel that threathens the friendship they once thought indestructible.

PREY tells the story of Nathan (BEAU TRAVAIL’S Gregoire Colin) who is at a countryside retreat for a Fall family reunion that he expects to be particularly stormy. Claire, his wife, has to announce her pregnancy and there are tough decisions that need to be made to prevent the family’s pesticides business from closing down. But on the first night that the family gathers, a terrorized deer mysteriously attacks Claire’s father. The men decide to venture into the surrounding forest to find the reasons for the animal’s odd behavior. Carrying a shotgun for the first time in his life and witnessing the growing tensions between the men in the family, Nathan soon discovers that hunting season is not over yet. Now they’ve become the prey. Marking the debut film for Antoine Blossier, PREY brings together a special effects team from some of Hollywood’s best films.

-Stay tuned for more acquisitions in the coming days...thoughts?

Magnolia Pictures picks up Alex Gibney's documentary on Eliot Spitzer...

...meaning the Gibney festival season might turn into the Gibney against Gibney Oscar race this year. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to Alex Gibney's untitled Eliot Spitzer documentary. Produced by A&E IndieFilms and Wider Film Projects, the doc revolves around the rise and fall of the former New York governor and prosecutor. A work-in-progress version recently screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. Magnolia's deal seals its fifth collaboration with Gibney. It also distributed his "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson," the recent "Casino Jack and the United States of Money" and the upcoming "Freakonomics.""Alex is the most vital documentarian working today, and this film could be his finest hour," Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles said. "It transcends what could have been a salacious expose in lesser hands to be a truly thrilling, masterful work of cinema."

-Spitzer is a very interesting figure to me, so I'm definitely interested...thoughts?

Sony Pictures Classics picks up Mike Leigh's 'Another Year' at Cannes!

Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

In a major film sale at Cannes, Sony Pictures Classics on Tuesday acquired domestic distribution rights to Mike Leigh's "Another Year."An ensemble drama, the British production has been among the fest's Competition films attracting the most accolades. Lesley Manville, who portrays the film's sadly befuddled Miss Lonely Hearts, is touted as a strong candidate for a best actress award at the fest."Year" focuses on a happily married couple, some troubled friends and the nuanced emotions of aging. Other cast members include Jim Broadbent, Oliver Maltman and Ruth Sheen ("Heartless").

Details of distribution plans were unavailable, but at a minimum it's likely that SPC will book "Year" for Oscar-qualifying exclusive engagements in 2010. SPC specializes in foreign-produced films and handled last year's Oscar winner in the foreign-language category, Argentine thriller "The Secret in Their Eyes."Miramax unspooled Leigh's last pic -- bittersweet dramatic comedy "Happy-Go-Lucky" -- in limited release in October 2008, with the Sally Hawkins starrer ringing up a total of $3.5 million domestically.

-Keep an eye out for this one in the fall/winter...thoughts?

How will Cannes shape up this year in terms of a buying market?

Well, here's an article in The Hollywood Reporter on just that:

Buyers need movies to fill release slates, and any titles with solid casting or a director attached are generally good bets. And sellers want to strike deals at a price that realistically reflects the economic gloom and falling production budgets without erasing profit margins. So the two sides are talking, but are they, you know, talking?

As the Marche du Film enters the home stretch Wednesday, there is reticence on both sides to be the ones to come out and say the marketplace is on its uppers. Certainly fewer and fewer sellers are hollering about North American sales.

The usual North American power buyers, including IFC Films and Phase 4 Films, had made it through Tuesday without pulling out their wallets.

Sony Pictures Classics, though, stepped up to the plate and acquired domestic rights to Mike Leigh's "Another Year" in the wake of a pre-emptive deal for Stephen Frears' "Tamara Drewe" it struck ahead of Cannes.

Newbies such as Red Flag Releasing ("8: The Mormon Proposition") and Oscilloscope Laboratories ("Howl") have yet to splash the cash. But another new guy on the block, Olive Films, opened its wallet, picking up a raft of titles. In addition to Danish film "R," which Olive snatched from TrustNordisk, the company did a major package deal with Germany's The Match Factory. Olive grabbed North American rights from Match for Semih Kaplanoglu's "Yusuf Trilogy": "Yumurta" (Egg) and "Sut" (Milk) and Berlin Golden Bear winner "Bal" (Honey), as well as last year's Berlin winner "The Milk of Sorrow" from Peruvian director Claudia Llosa and San Sebastian favorite "Me Too" from directors Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Naharro.

"There are some gems out there that we're going to be going after," Oscilloscope's David Fenkel said. "You'll see, there will be plenty of deals over the next month. It is a quieter year but that's not because there aren't good films. The big companies aren't going after these movies right now, and that is what typically creates a lot of excitement."

Pre-Cannes, agency sales reps essentially shrugged at the potential for domestic deals, recognizing that shifts in the rhythm of the industry have made the Cannes market even less important for domestic sales.

Whereas the 2008 Cannes featured high-profile titles with U.S. distribution rights available, such as "Two Lovers," "Che" and "Synecdoche, New York," there aren't as many "substantial" titles available this year. CAA is repping Inarrituπs "Biutiful," which is one of the few pictures that seems destined for a domestic deal, but it sold Doug Limanπs "Fair Game" to Summit in the lead-up to the festival.

"The buyers are being very conservative," said Julie Sultan, Peace Arch Entertainment's president of international sales and distribution. "They are being very thoughtful with their selections."

At the same time that U.S. buyers are feeling less and less compelled to make early deals and foreign buyers are busy ... ish.

U.S. sales, finance and production banner Myriad Pictures jetted into Cannes with late sales slate addition "Margin Call," starring Kevin Spacey and Zachary Quinto. Cassian Elwes, along with UTA and Untitled Entertainment, is handling domestic for the banking crisis thriller and Myriad has already struck deals for the picture in Germany, the Middle East, Turkey, Romania, Yugoslavia and Latin America for pay TV.

"Buyers have gone for it because it is truly timely and is a film about what is happening now," Myriad president Kirk D'Amico said.

Make no mistake, while market attendees are not shouting "the good times are back," there is an air of quiet calm if you come with a good script, talent attached and reasonable budget levels.

So while French company MK2 CEO Nathanael Karmitz thinks there are fewer films in the market overall "and hardly any interesting indie titles from the U.S.," Karmitz said international sales are positive.

MK2 scored pre-sales for Walter Salles' "On the Road" to Icon in the U.K. and Australia, Cineart in Belgium and Concorde Tele Munchen in Germany. German sales agent Telepool sold four films -- "Cargo," "The Door," "Mein Kampf" and Tribeca winner "When We Leave" to Mongrel for Canada; two ("Cargo," "The Door") to Seven Sept for France and two ("Cargo," "Mein Kampf") to CCV for Scandinavia.

Ramy Choi, director of acquisitions and deistribution for Jackie Chan International, reported brisk sales for Chan's most recent picture, "Little Big Soldier," as well as the new slate of movies in which he will star and/or produce. "Soldier" went to the U.K.'s Shadowbox Media Group as well as Italy's One Movie SRL, France's Metropolitan Filmexport, Benelux's Splendid Film and Japan's Presidio. His upcoming star turn in "Drunken Master 1945" attracted buys from Shadowbox, the Middle East's Gulf Film, and distributors in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia/Brunei. The Chan-produced "The Break-Up Artist," starring Lin Peng, went to Shadowbox, One Movie and a host of Middle East and Asian buyers. New company Shadowbox, which is building up its DVD library, and Gulf Film also took rights to such future Chan titles as "Cambodia Landmine," "Tiger Mountain" and "Manhattan."

Confidence could also do with a boost if Japan showed any signs of being back at the top tables.

"Unfortunately, Japan has become an inward-looking territory, one North American sales excutive said. "Because local, less expensive productions seem to be working at the boxoffice there, the buyers are not here spending lots on U.S. product anymore."

So while most agree that, while the days of headline-grabbing deals seem to a part of Cannes' past, the good times may yet return.

-Stay tuned...

Mike Leigh's 'Another Year' is drawing major interest at Cannes!

Deadline has the story:

The Mike Leigh-directed film Another Year is the first Cannes Festival premiere that has sparked interest from the domestic distributor crowd. Everybody got a look at it this weekend, and I'm hearing that Sony Pictures Classics and The Weinstein Company are in the mix and a deal could happen quick. The film that domestic distributors are most eagerly waiting to see is Biutiful, the Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu-directed Spanish language film that stars Javier Bardem. The Babel and Amores Perros is a world class auteur. He's gotten world class deals for his recent movies, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. The herd of domestic distributors for prestige pictures has thinned, and many of the survivors don't usually traffic in foreign language films. Part of the reason is their ancillary output deals exclude subtitled fare.

-Stay tuned to see where the film lands...thoughts?

A second Naomi Watts film gets picked up for release by Summit...

...making this the second straight story combining the actress and the studio. Here's what The Hollywood Reporter has to say on the matter:

Summit has added a second Naomi Watts feature to its release slate, with the announcement that it has picked up most worldwide rights to "The Impossible," in which Watts will co-star with Ewan McGregor.

Last week, Summit also acquired North American rights, along with several other territories, to Doug Liman's "Fair Game," in which Watts stars as outed CIA undercover operative Valerie Plame Wilson opposite Sean Penn.

While "Game" is completed and will debut at the Festival de Cannes, "Impossible," which Juan Antonio Bayona is directing from a script by Sergio G. Sanchez, begins filming in August in Alicante, Spain before moving to Thailand in October.

It is based on a true story that took place during the 2004 tsunami that hit the coast of Thailand. It is being produced by Belen Atienza, Lopez Lavigne and Alvaro Augustin for Spanish production companies Apaches Entertainment and Telecino Cinema, which are coproducing.

Bayona and Sanchez previously collaborated on "The Orphanage," which Bayona directed, Sanchez wrote and Atienza and Augustin executive produced.

Summit has acquired worldwide rights to "The Impossible," with the exception of Spain, where Warners will distribute. Summit International will begin selling rights to the film outside of North America at Cannes.

David Garrett, Summer International president, and Michael Schaefer, Summit senior vp acquisitions and co-productions, will oversee the project for the company.

Watts is repped by CAA and Untitled Entertainment. McGregor is repped by UTA, which also reps Apaches, and U.K. agent Lindy King of United Agents. Bayona is represented by WME.

-Thoughts?

Summit picks up Doug Liman's 'Fair Game' before its Cannes debut...

...perhaps signaling it might be an Oscar contender. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Two weeks before its Cannes Competition premiere, Doug Liman’s fact-based “Fair Game” has been acquired by Summit Entertainment. The studio has picked up North American distribution rights to the political thriller as well as those in Italy, Benelux, Scandinavia, Japan and CIS.

Starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts, the film is based on the memoir written by undercover CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband Joseph Wilson’s book, “Politics of Truth.” Jez Butterworth and John Butterworth wrote the screenplay.

Producers include Bill Pohlad of River Road Entertainment, Janet and Jerry Zucker of Zucker Prods., Akiva Goldsman of Weed Road Pictures, Liman via his Hypnotic banner, and Jez Butterworth. The film was financed by River Road, Participant Media and Imagenation Abu Dhabi.

“We choose our partners based on a like-minded philosophy,” said Imagenation Abu Dhabi’s CEO Ed Borgerding. “Participant, River Road and Summit share our commitment to supporting films that not only entertain, but also raise awareness of issues and encourage social change.”

-I'm interested in seeing how it does at Cannes...thoughts?

Oscilloscope picks up 'Howl' for release!

Here's the official press release from Oscilloscope Laboratories:

Oscilloscope Laboratories announced today that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to 2-time Academy Award® winning director Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's first dramatic narrative HOWL. Starring James Franco in a career-defining performance as Allen Ginsberg, HOWL is the story of how the young poet's seminal work broke down societal barriers in the face of an infamous public obscenity trial. HOWL was the opening night film at Sundance Film Festival 2010 and also played in competition at 2010 Berlinale. The film was produced by Elizabeth Redleaf and Christine Kunewa Walker of Werc Werk Works, and Epstein and Friedman. Oscilloscope will release HOWL in theaters and VOD on September 24, 2010.

In his famously confessional style, Ginsberg – poet, counter-culture icon, and chronicler of the Beat Generation – recounts the road trips, love affairs, and search for personal liberation that led to HOWL, the most timeless work of his career. HOWL interweaves three stories: the unfolding of the landmark 1957 obscenity trial; an imaginative animated ride through the prophetic masterpiece; and a unique portrait of a man who found new ways to express himself, and in doing so, changed his own life and galvanized a generation.

HOWL features James Franco, David Strathairn, Jon Hamm, Bob Balaban, Alessandro Nivola, Treat Williams, with Mary-Louise Parker and Jeff Daniels.

David Fenkel, co-founder of Oscilloscope says, "At O-Scope we love working with passionate, creative filmmakers who make entertaining and meaningful films, and the team behind HOWL perfectly fit this profile. They put together a great cast, lead by a performance by James Franco that people will be talking about for years."

Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman say: "We're very happy that HOWL has found the perfect home and partners. Oscilloscope is the coolest company around."

Elizabeth Walker, CEO of Werc Werk Works says: "We are very fortunate that Oscilloscope has come on board to bring their passion and dedication to this extraordinary and inspiring movie."

Christine Walker, President of Werc Werk Works says: "Adam Yauch and his team have a terrific track record of nurturing unique films like HOWL and we look forward to working with them and bringing it to the widest audience possible."

-I think they did okay with The Messenger last year, so they're a pretty good distributor to handle a small flick...thoughts?

Sony Pictures Classics grabs the rights to Sylvain Chomet's 'The Illusionist'...

...strengthening the 2010 slate for the company. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Sony Pictures Classics has acquired all North American rights to Sylvain Chomet’s “The Illusionist” from Pathe.

SPC and Chomet previously collaborated on the filmmaker’s “The Triplets of Belleville,” which was nominated for a best animated feature Oscar in 2003. “The Illusionist,” which had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival in February, will be released in theaters at the end of the year.

“Collaborating with Sylvain on ‘The Triplets of Belleville’ was such a fantastic experience,” said SPC co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard. “We are so thrilled to be back partnering with him again on ‘The Illusionist,’ as well as our friends at Pathe, and producers Bob Last, Jake Eberts and Philippe Carcassonne. With a moving storyline and a work of art in each frame, audiences both young and old will connect with this film.”

Based on an unproduced screenplay by Jacques Tati (“Mr. Hulot’s Holiday”), “The Illusionist” follows a stage performer who’s watching the spotlight stolen away by emerging rock stars. As he is forced to take on increasingly fringe assignments, he meets a young fan who changes his life forever.

Bob Last produced the film; Jake Eberts and Philippe Carcassonne (“Coco Before Chanel”) are executive producers.

Sony Pictures Classics has Woody Allen’s “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger” and Stephen Frears’ “Tamara Drewe” premiering in Cannes next month. The company most recently released “Chloe” and “The Secret in Their Eyes.”

-Thoughts?

Sony Pictures Classics will release one of the documentaries screening at Cannes...

...and it's the latest from the director of the documentary 'No End in Sight'. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Sony Pictures Classics will release Charles Ferguson's latest documentary "Inside Job," a look at the global financial crisis, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival in an out-of-competition special screening slot.

Matt Damon narrates the film, which was produced through their Representational Pictures Co. by Ferguson and Audry Mars, who also both produced Ferguson's 2007 Iraq War study "No End in Sight," which was nominated for an Academy Award. Christina Weiss Lurie served as exec producer.

SPC became involved in the film more than a year and a half ago, the company revealed Sunday. SPC will also be represented at Cannes by Stephen Frears' "Tamara Drewe" and Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger."

-It looks to be a good festival for the studio...thoughts?

Oscilloscope picks up one of the documentaries from Sundance for distribution...

...continuing the small studio's run of putting out very interesting films (Wendy And Lucy, The Messenger, Tell Them Anything You Want, and The Exploding Girl, to name a few that I enjoyed). Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Oscilloscope has acquired North American distribution rights to Yael Hersonski's Holocaust documentary "A Film Unfinished."

The doc, which premiered in January at the Sundance Film Festival, is the story of a Nazi propaganda film made about Jewish life in the Warsaw ghetto. Oscilloscope will open the pic Aug. 18 on a single New York screen, add a second Manhattan venue two days later and expand distribution during subsequent frames.

"This movie really affected me," Oscilloscope head Adam Yauch said. "It's an incredibly powerful film, not just because of the rare Nazi propaganda footage it shows but also the captivating way the filmmakers tell the story."

-The word out of Sundance was good for this documentary, and Oscilloscope has a good track record with small documentaries (go here to see all of the films that they've put out)...thoughts?

Another of the Sundance films of this year gets picked up...

...with this one being 'The Extra Man'. The Hollywood Reporter has the details:

Magnolia Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's "The Extra Man."

The film, which debuted in January at the Sundance Film Festival, stars Kevin Kline as a society escort and Paul Dano as an aspiring writer.

It was written by Berman, Pulcini and Jonathan Ames from Ames' novel of the same name. Likely Story's Anthony Bregman and 3Arts' Stephanie Davis produced. A late July theatrical release is planned.

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia's Tom Quinn, Wild Bunch's Agnes Mentre and Carole Baraton and CAA.

-Thoughts?

'Restrepo' gets picked up for distribution!

One of the big winners at Sundance has been purchased, according to this in The Hollywood Reporter:

National Geographic Entertainment has picked up the U.S. theatrical rights to "Restrepo," the documentary that follows a platoon of American soldiers in Afghanistan from journalists Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger.

Winner of the Sundance Film Festival's grand jury documentary prize, the film is set for release July 2. National Geographic Channel, which took worldwide TV rights earlier this year, will broadcast it in the fall.

"Restrepo" is an Outpost Films Production in association with National Geographic Channel. Executive producers are John Battsek and Nick Quested.

-I look forward to seeing this...

The Weinstein Company picks up 'The Company Men' for distribution...

...via The Hollywood Reporter:

The Weinstein Co. has acquired U.S. distribution rights to John Wells’ directorial debut, “The Company Men.” A release is planned for later in the year.

The downsizing drama, which was inspired by the experiences of one of Wells’ in-laws, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January. The deal, which includes a mid seven-figure P&A commitment, was brokered by David Glasser and Peter Lawson of the Weinstein Company and CAA, which also set up financing for the film.

“I am thrilled to be in business with John Wells and my old friend Ben Affleck,” said Harvey Weinstein. “John has put together a tremendous cast to tell this timely story, and I look forward to bringing it to audiences.”

This marks the Weinstein Company’s third acquisition from the 2010 Sundance event. The company picked up North American and Pan-Asian rights to the indie drama “Blue Valentine” for low seven figures during the fest. And in the weeks after the festival it acquired North American and English-language rights to the documentary “The Tillman Story.”

“Company Men” stars Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner in a drama about how layoffs at an industrial plant affect three generations of men and their families. Wells wrote and directed the film, which he produced along with Claire Rudnick Polstein and Paula Weinstein.

IM Global continues to handle international rights to the film.

-This gives the Weinsteins some very interesting flicks this year...thoughts?

Apparition picks up 'Welcome to the Rileys' for distribution...

...according to this in Variety:

Apparition and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group have finalized their acquisition of Kristen Stewart-James Gandolfini starrer "Welcome to the Rileys," which bowed at Sundance.

A seven-figure deal for North American rights closed Friday.

Jake Scott-helmed drama was produced by his father, Ridley, and uncle Tony's shingle Scott Free, and penned by Ken Hixon.

Story revolves around a couple, played by Gandolfini and Melissa Leo, whose marriage is on the rocks when the husband meets a young prostitute, played by Stewart, on a business trip to New Orleans. He extends his stay to help her, as his wife finds a way back to him.

Apparition plans a fall release. Sony will handle all domestic ancillaries. Jake Scott previously directed British action comedy "Plunkett and Macleane" and numerous musicvids.

Producers include the Scott brothers, Scott Free's Michael Costigan, financiers Giovanni Agnelli and Scott Bloom of Argonaut Pictures, and Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch.

UTA repped the sale.

-Thoughts?

Sony Pictures Classics to distribute Woody Allen's next film!

Via Variety:

Sony Pictures Classics has snagged the North American distribution rights to Woody Allen's drama "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" and set a fall release.

Pic, set in London, stars Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto and Naomi Watts.

It's the third Allen film released by Sony Classics, which also handled "Whatever Works" last year and "Sweet and Lowdown" in 1999.

"Stranger" was shot in London last August and is produced by Letty Aronson, Steve Tenenbaum and Jaume Roures. It is financed by Mediapro, the Spain-based company that also funded "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

-I love Woody, so count me in...thoughts?

Hilary Swank gunning for a 3rd Oscar with her next project with Fox Searchlight?

Perhaps so, along with Sam Rockwell potentially being someone to watch out for as someone who could get their first. Here's the story in The Hollywood Reporter:

Fox Searchlight, which released the Hilary Swank starrer "Amelia" in October, is reteaming with the actress.

The specialty distributor has acquired North American and select international rights to "Betty Anne Waters" from Omega Entertainment.

Directed by Tony Goldwyn and written by Pamela Gray, the based-on-a-true-story movie stars Swank as a high school dropout and single mom who puts herself through law school in order to overturn the murder conviction of her brother (Sam Rockwell). The cast also includes Melissa Leo, Minnie Driver, Juliette Lewis and Peter Gallagher.

The film was produced by Andrew Sugerman, Andrew S. Karsch and Goldwyn, with Swank as executive producer. It is scheduled for a fall release.

The deal was brokered by Searchlight's Tony Safford and Megan O'Brien with Markus Barmettler on behalf of Omega and with CAA, which assisted in financing the movie and reps the filmmakers.

-Thoughts?

'Blue Valentine', one of the hits of Sundance, gets picked up by The Weinstein Company!

Also, 'Hesher' found a home too, with Newmarket. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:


Harvey Weinstein has been given a "Blue Valentine" from Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams at Sundance.

The Weinstein Co. nabbed U.S., Canadian and Pan-Asian satellite territory rights to Derek Cianfrance's romantic drama starring the pair in a low-seven-figure deal.

WME Global chief Graham Taylor was in an anxious huddle at a restaurant off Main Street well after midnight Thursday with "Blue Valentine" producers (and his personal valentine) Lynette Howell, Jamie Patricof and Alex Orlovsky, (the team behind the 2006 Sundance hit "Half Nelson") as all-night negotiations were going down. IFC Films and Sony Pictures Classics were also said to be in the mix.

Some 12 years in the making, "Blue Valentine" chronicles a disintegrating marriage between Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Williams), told in flashback. The tough, poignant and occasionally brutal film has moved audiences and critics alike since its Sunday night Eccles premiere.
Weinstein has been out in full force at screenings with Weinstein Co. international head David Glasser and their acquisitions team. The studio was the only buyer to acquire a 2009 Toronto title, Tom Ford's "A Single Man," and shepherd it to success this awards season. The company also is eyeing "The Tillman Story."

Glasser led negotiations for the studio with Taylor, who sealed the deal a day after his WME Global closed a $1 million-range sale on the Joseph Gordon-Levitt/Natalie Portman-toplined "Hesher" to Newmarket Films.

-I'm quite anxious to see both, but 'Blue Valentine' has gotten some awards-caliber reviews, so that's now near the top of my 2010 "must see" list...thoughts?

'The Kids Are All Right' is the next film to sell at Sundance...

...continuing today's sort of Sundance theme, as Focus Features has acquired this film. Here's the story from The Hollywood Reporter:

Lisa Cholodenko's drama-tinged comedy "The Kids Are All Right" has found a quick home after its packed, enthusiastic Monday night screening at the Library Theatre. Focus Features has acquired North American distribution rights -- plus rights to South Africa, the U.K. and Germany -- to the film after rabid interest from several buyers in the past 48 hours.

Immediately after the screening -- which reps from the Weinstein Co., Focus, Magnolia Pictures, Summit Entertainment and Fox Searchlight attended -- interest in a theatrical release ran rampant. Summit and Focus, in particular, were competing seriously for the pickup in the first post-screening 24 hours.

Ultimately, James Schamus' Focus sealed the deal with a bid of just under $5 million. Bart Walker and John Sloss of Cinetic Media handled the negotiations for the filmmakers.

Focus last acquired a Sundance entry when it picked up the comedy "Hamlet 2" for $10 million in 2008. That proved to be a bad bet when the film underperformed in theaters. Despite recent boxoffice disappointments, Focus scored its second-biggest hit to date last year with the $75 million-grossing "Coraline," and several Oscar wins for "Milk" took the gay politico biopic to $32 million.

"Kids" could break the streak, however, as it has a much more commercial feel than much of Focus' recent output. In the film, Annette Bening and Julianne Moore star as a committed lesbian couple who have birthed and raised two teenagers together. When their daughter turns 18, she and her brother decide to reach out to their mothers' sperm donor, played by Mark Ruffalo, who gradually becomes an intimate part of all of their lives, with some positive and some disastrous results.

The film's raunchier scenes and graphic sexual material, along with its gay protagonists, as funny and sexy as they are, could cut into the film's potential boxoffice prospects. This edginess, however, could be leavened by the presence of a recognizable and likable cast well known by mainstream and indie audiences alike.

And with "Precious," last year's tough sell with its rapes, incest and general misery, racking up $45 million in U.S. theaters, hopes for this happy little gem aren't unreasonable.

Cholodenko's debut, "High Art," screened at the fest in 1998 and took home the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, while her follow-up, "Laurel Canyon," played there in 2003.

A number of Sundance titles -- "HappyThankYouMorePlease," "The Company Men," "The Tillman Story," "Splice," "Catfish" and "Winter's Bone" -- continue to wriggle toward distribution deals as buyers and sellers take their time to work out the release and P&A details.

Lionsgate nabbed the first big deal of the fest Sunday when it bought "Buried" for $3 million-$4 million. Paramount announced its pickup of the Davis Guggenheim documentary "Waiting for Superman" on Thursday afternoon as the festival opened as a Paramount Vantage title.

-The cast certainly has me interested in seeing it...