Acquisition Sundance style

by Ilene Marder, January 24, 2011

Sundance of course is known as the premiere American film festival...not only showcasing the best, cutting edge films, actors and directors, but also serving as the number one wheeling and dealing platform.   Studio and indie distribution companies are mad at work hustling to make the best deals for the best films.
This year, the atmosphere is hot and heavy.

It's interesting to listen to the cell phone conversations of industry attendees as they sit in special screenings waiting for a film to begin (although we know many of these overly loud conversations are really for those listening, as the real scores are made, often in all-night negotiations, by acquisition execs in the lush condos hidden in the rolling hills surrounding Park City).

But several fims have already been bought which means you'll likely be seeing them soon in theaters or on HBO and the Sundance Channel. Among them:
- LIKE CRAZY-  romantic drama starring Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence (the current Sundance It girl).
- MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE -  featuring a much talked about breakout performance by Elizabeth Olson...sister to the Olson twins, portraying a damaged woman haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, who struggles to reassimilate with her family after fleeing a cult. Also stars Hugh Dancy.

- BUCK - One of my absolute favorites (and everyone else's).  Doc about legendary horse whisperer Buck Brannaman, who inspired Robert Redford's "The Horse Whisperer". You don't have to even like horses to be carried away by this very inspiring and compassionate movie by Cindy Meehl. Sundance Selects bought this one almost immediately after it screened.
PAGE ONE: A YEAR INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES - Terrific doc given incredible access to NY Times meetings, and editorial decision making, featuring the especially appealing media writer David Carr...explores  the devastating (for newspapers) change in media from print to digital-  described not as a transition, but a revolution; also features NY Times's complicated relationship with WikiLeaks. A must for news junkies.

Other films here expected to sell quickly include SALVATION BOULEVARD, which I have just written about, and which was just included on Hollywood Reporter's list of films that will sell; also MARGIN CALL, explores the time just before Wall Street's financial collapse, with stellar cast including Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons. Other titles to look for- THE LEDGE, HOMEWORK, A PERFECT SENSE, MY IDIOT BROTHER, CEDAR RAPIDS...

So many films...so little time and space to tell you about them! And why are they important?
As Robert Redford, founder of Sundance says: “Storytellers broaden our minds: engage, provoke, inspire, and ultimately, connect us.”