2014 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Amir Bar-Lev’s Happy Valley

Not to be confused with the Pacino feature project of the same name and subject, Amir Bar-Lev who made a name for himself with Sundance preemed docs presented My Kid Could Paint That (2007) and The Tillman Story (2010), signed onto A&E IndieFilms’ documentary project in May of 2012. Besides contributing to the 12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief docu, there hasn’t been much in terms of developments beyond a brief update by the filmmaker himself, but I’m thinking A&E IndieFilms will want to have this delivered while it’s still hot.

Gist: The children of “Happy Valley” were victimized for years, by a key member of the legendary Penn State college football program. But were Jerry Sandusky’s crimes an open secret? With rare access, director Amir Bar-Lev delves beneath the headlines to tell a modern American parable of guilt, redemption, and identity.

Production Co./Producers: Passion Pictures’ John Battsek and Amir Bar-Lev. Exec producers Bob DeBitetto, David McKillop and Molly Thompson.

Prediction: U.S. Documentary Competition

U.S. Distributor: A&E IndieFilms owns the television rights, not sure how this affects theatrical.

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