It’s Official! SPC picks up Oscar contender Synecdoche, New York

A couple of days ago, IndieWIRE announced the unconfirmed report (as they do with many SPC deals) that Synecdoche, New York was indeed going to the specialized art-house distributor. Today, we have the confirmation that Sony Pictures Classics are adding some Oscar contender clout with the pick up of the Charlie Kaufman’s seminal work, meta-structured narrative that borders on the dramatic, but has comedy-noir at the core. The unsold Cannes picture was one of the last remaining territories available for Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

The purchase gives SPC a second opportunity to showcase the talents of Philip Seymour Hoffman. The actor took home the Academy award for Best Actor with Capote (originally a United Artists pic which eventually fell on the laps of SPC when Sony bought out MGM). With an October release slated, the most probable and logical scenario would be to use the New York Film Festival as a launch pad for the film…plus when you have ‘New York’ in the title it’s almost a given that you’d show off a prestige title at a New York-based Fim Fest.  

The critical reaction to Kaufman’s debut has been mixed but stateside has found some strong supporters – I found this nutshell blurb from Ray Bennett (The Hollywood Reporter) who writes, “None of this is easy to follow, and it requires concentration to stay up with all the changing characters and the many abrupt moves in all directions, but such is Kaufman’s confidence as a filmmaker and his wonderful ability to write memorable dialogue that the converted will follow him anywhere.”

This now makes it a five count for the total number of films purchased at Cannes by SPC. Along with SNY, they’ve got the Palme d’or winner Entre Les murs (The Class), and a title that was a serious contender for that same prize with Waltz with Bashir, a Dardenne bros. drama (Lorna’s Silence) that split critics down the middle but still picked up the Best Screenplay award and Un Certain Regard comedy O’Horten from Bent Hamer.