Miramax Films are prepping for next year's Oscar race, boarding on filmmaker Noam Murro's Smart People and buying the North American rights. This is one of the first productions from Michael London's new Groundswell Prods. London is of course the producer behind such films as Sideways and The Illusionist.
Protagonist didn’t pick up any prizes at the fest, but it remains one of my favorite docs viewed during the more than 25 films I saw at Sundance. Apparently the folks at IFC Films and Netflix's Red Envelope Entertainment label are moments away from closing a deal on the pic from filmmaker Jessica Yu.
The top troupes at Magnolia Pictures are rallied up for one of the bigger projects on slate for the 07’ calender year. After years of studio projects, Brian De Palma’s next will be distribed by one of the indie studios. Magnolia Pictures will release the pic day-and-date next fall in theaters.
The ensemble piece had its Sundance premiere in the first weekend of the fest, while the indie heavyweights balked, ThinkFilm and City Lights Home Entertainment have partnered to purchase the pic for over 4 million. Vareity reports that ThinkFilm will handle theatrical distribution and City Lights will handle DVD and digital distribution through its partnership with Warner Music Group's WEA Corp. Both companies will share revenue from all distribution venues.