Criterion and IFC

[knives]

Like whether or not something is good have mattered to Criterion before. I presume everything depends on Becker's and to a lesser extent the producers' tastes.

[jwd5275]

I think it's as simple as Becker not caring about Herzog.

I seriously doubt that. I'm pretty sure he would jump at the chance to put out any of the films (non-documentary) Herzog made between 1972 and 1982 (from Aguirre to Fitzcarraldo.)

[knives]

What makes you think that? I can't remember where, but I remember reading that Becker is not a Herzog fan at all and that in fact before Anchor Bay picked them up Criterion had a good opportunity to release those films.

[jwd5275]

Release the documentary about the making of a film you hate? Post pictures of Kinski as Aguirre for his birthday (I don't recall Klaus in any Criterion films.)

Mind you I am not speculating that there is Herzog coming, I'm just saying it is obvious some people in control there do like him (at least the earlier stuff alot.)

[GiovanniR]

Herzog's upcoming documentary Into the Abyss looks really good. I'm thinking that will certainly be in consideration for Criterion. Given that it was picked up by IFC.

[eerik]

Criterion not wanting to go 3-D?

Well, Pina is kind of confirmed.

[htshell]

Well, Pina is kind of confirmed.

Like whether or not something is good have mattered to Criterion before.

Exactly. Wasn't into Pina.

[ianungstad]

It's just speculation at this point but Deadline is reporting that Sundance Channel is rumored to be coming on board Jane Campion's Top of The Lake; set to shoot in January with Elizabeth Moss as the lead. If this happens, I'm sure Criterion will be all over the eventual dvd/blu ala Carlos. Anyways, the project sounds quite interesting.

[ianungstad]

Looks like "Top of the Lake" is confirmed. If it's even half decent, I'm sure it will be on Criterion's schedule for 2013. A few more details:

Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss, The Piano's Holly Hunter, Trainspotting's Peter Mullan, David Wenham will star in Jane Campion's 6-hour miniseries for UKTV, BBC2 and the Sundance Channel, Top of the Lake.

The miniseries, produced by The King’s Speech Academy Award winners Emile Sherman and Iain Canning of See-Saw Films and Escapade Pictures’ Philippa Campbell, will commence filming in February 2012 in Queenstown, New Zealand.

It is the first time the Sydney-based Campion has filmed in her homeland since 1993’s Oscar winner, The Piano.

Campion will direct with rising Australian director Garth Davis (Love My Way). The six one-hour episodes will air in early 2013. Screen Australia, Screen NSW and Fulcrum Media Finance are providing investment and finance and BBC Worldwide will distribute the series.

Top of the Lake is a mystery set in the remote mountains of New Zealand. Co-writer (with Gerard Lee) and director Jane Campion said in a release: “I am in love with the intense beauty of southern most New Zealand and am excited to be setting a story in this end of the world paradise. To be able to tell the story over six hours gives myself and my brilliant team a chance to make something truly absorbing and memorable.”

[colinr0380]

That sounds great, and hopefully if Criterion does do an edition, then they may also look into releasing some other New Zealand set films at the same time - Vincent Ward's Vigil in particular needs greater exposure, or even Barry Barclay's Ngati.

[swo17]

I noticed that an MPI DVD of The Time That Remains was recently announced to come out in April. This is the last of the films mentioned here (as part of the first wave of Sundance Selects titles) to get a physical release in R1, other than the obvious exception of Certified Copy. So whoever ends up putting that out, I figure the wait can't be too much longer.

[ianungstad]

Michael Boland, who has designed numerous covers for Criterion also did the poster for The Kid With a Bike. Could be nothing but I would point out that Neil Kellerhouse and Sam's Myth both did posters for IFC (Carlos and Everything is Going Fine) that ended up as the covers on their eventual Criterion releases. The Kid with a Bike is a really good film that more than deserves a spot in the collection.

[hearthesilence]

I concur, partly to keep their films in-print here in the U.S. Most of their films are no longer distributed here on DVD (or VOD for that matter). Some like Rosetta have never been issued on DVD. If anything, Criterion should do a box set.

[ianungstad]

Sweet! IFC has bought the rights to On the Road! One of my more anticipated films of the year. We'll have to see what kind of reviews On the Road gets at Cannes but if they're decent, there is no way Criterion is going to pass on this IMO.

trailer

Quote from indiewire:

"This is a major step forward for us, and we plan to work across AMC Networks in putting all our resources together to make this theatrical release into a significant cultural event,” said Sundance Selects/IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring. “We will show the same passion in releasing this film as the team took behind producing it.”

IFC and MK2 previously collaborated on “Summer Hours,” “Certified Copy” and “Paranoid Park.”

Sundance Selects/IFC Films exec Arianna Bocco negotiated the deal with Bart Walker of Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.

[Jeff]

Wow! What a coup for Sehring, and definitely their biggest acquisition thus far. I have high hopes for what sounds like a pretty artistically adventurous adaptation, and I know that IFC won't futz with it like Weinstein or one of the mini-majors might. If this is halfway decent, it's certainly bound for Criterion. One can only imagine the wealth of supplemental material that could be cooked up for such a release. The film has a long and storied production history. We already know that Salles spent a year retracing Kerouac's journey, and made a feature-length doc in the process. I'm sure Coppola would have lots to contribute, and of course, there is probably a wealth of extant material on Kerouac and the Beat Generation. Here's hoping the film is half as good as it looks.

It's been my understanding that other distribs have made offers that were too low for Mk2. Everybody thinks it's great, but unmarketable to mainstream audiences. IFC supposedly picked this up for a low seven-figure sum. I wouldn't be surprised if the eventual cache of a Criterion release didn't help sway the decision to go with IFC. Niche titles like this surely do better with Criterion than they do with traditional distributors.

[ianungstad]

As far as Criterion goes, Roman Coppola is one of the producers of On the Road. (Francis is executive producer). I'm sure Roman has some kind of relationship with Criterion via the Wes Anderson films...so I could definitely see a potential Criterion release playing favorably in negotiating the deal. If IFC and Roman hit it off and IFC continues to feel adventurous, I wouldn't mind "A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III". Just sayin'.

The film is probably pretty good. This is a big pickup for IFC and it seems like they are going above and beyond what they typically do. The fact that only a theatrical release is mentioned and not a day-and date release is also promising. If a film is awful and being dumped on the cheap, that will usually happen after a film has debuted and bombed at the festivals and not as a pre-buy the week before. I'm optimistic. The trailer and stills are gorgeous.

Full press release:

“Walter Salles has made an ambitious and accomplished film out of Jack Kerouac’s iconic novel,” AMC Networks CEO and president Josh Sapan said. “It’s a classic road movie with career-making performances from Garrett Hedlund and Sam Riley, and a terrific showcase for Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst. This exceptional piece of filmmaking is the cinematic equivalent to the ground-breaking original content that our company produces for its networks.”

“This is a major step forward for us, and we plan to work across AMC Networks in putting all our resources together to make this theatrical release into a significant cultural event,” Sundance Selects/IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring said.

“We will show the same passion in releasing this film as the team took behind producing it. We’re honored to be working with our friends Nathanael Karmitz and Charles Gillibert at MK2, Walter Salles, Rebecca Yeldham, Roman Coppola and Francis Ford Coppola.”

”On The Road changed the lives of many people, it changed the life of MK2 and it will also have that affect on AMC Networks and its labels’ IFC Films and Sundance Selects,” Karmitz and Gillibert said. “We had a lot of interest from US distributors but the combination of AMC Networks’ great promotional appeal with IFC Films and Sundance Selects’ experience in distribution is an innovative and ambitious way to bring On The Road great success in the US. We were also very touched by the passionate approach of Josh Sapan and Jonathan Sehring and by the enthusiasm of their team.”

This marks the fourth time that the two companies have collaborated following Olivier Assayas’ Summer Hours, Abbas Kiarostami’s Certified Copy and Gus Van Sant’s Paranoid Park. They are also partnering on Assayas’ upcoming Something In The Air.

Sundance Selects/IFC Films svp of acquisitions and productions Arianna Bocco negotiated the deal with Bart Walker of Cinetic Media on behalf of the producers.

[Jgh8xxx]

A source within Criterion tells me that we should expect an announcement of Haigh's Weekend sometime this calendar year.

[SpiderBaby]

^ So 2 "WeekEnd" films being released by Criterion this year?

[Jeff]

That should sufficiently confuse both wholesale and retail buyers of Criterion product.

Not entirely surprising though, as the Haigh film got great reviews.

[scoundrel]

A source within Criterion tells me that we should expect an announcement of Haigh's Weekend sometime this calendar year.

I suppose some hot gay sex will begin to make up for the clusterf**k that passed in North Carolina.

News of Criterion picking up Weekend is welcome as well.

[ianungstad]

I noticed that Jeff Nichol's first film Shotgun Stories was released by IFC Films. (via a now defunct label called IFC First Takes) The original dvd is out of print and expensive. I wonder if this might be a project Criterion might consider releasing at some point? For those who've seen it, would it be Criterion worthy?

Jeff's new film Mud debuts at Cannes next Saturday. Apparently they've already held screenings for buyers at the Cannes film market. No word yet on distribution but I hope either IFC or Sony Pictures Classics picks it up. From the clips that have been released, it looks pretty good.

[knives]

If by Criterion worthy you mean better than Border Radio than yes. It's a pretty fascinating and good film though it won't blow your mind of anything like that.

[ianungstad]

IFC picked up the rights to Sightseers today. The film is getting rave reviews at Cannes. I think it's highly likely we'll see Kill List this fall, so this one will probably wind up in the collection too.

Will be interesting to see if Criterion decides to release On the Road or Beyond the Hills. Neither film had a stellar reception at Cannes.

[Jeff]

Will be interesting to see if Criterion decides to release On the Road or Beyond the Hills. Neither film had a stellar reception at Cannes.

Eh, never can tell this early what the ultimate reception will really be. Certified Copy and Antichrist were booed and heckled at Cannes.

[ianungstad]

IFC has picked up The Angel's Share (Ken Loach) and Like Someone in Love (Abbas Kiarostami).