IFC Films

IFC Films Takes North American Rights to Sebastian Silva’s Competition Comedy CRYSTAL FAIRY From Sundance Film Festival

Winner of 2013 Sundance Best Director Award in World Cinema

Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffmann Star

NEW YORK, NY (February 4, 2013) — IFC Films announced today that the company is acquiring North American rights to writer-director Sebastían Silva's CRYSTAL FAIRY, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The film, with a screenplay by Silva, stars Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffmann, Juan Andrés Silva, José Miguel Silva, and Agustín Silva, and was produced by Juan de Dios Larraín and Pablo Larraín. CRYSTAL FAIRY was the recipient of the Best Director Award in World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival.

Jamie (Cera) is a boorish, insensitive American twentysomething traveling in Chile, who somehow manages to create chaos at every turn. He and his friends are planning on taking a road trip north to experience a legendary shamanistic hallucinogen called the San Pedro cactus. In a fit of drunkenness at a wild party, Jamie invites an eccentric woman — a radical spirit named Crystal Fairy (Hoffmann) — to come along. What is meant to be a devil-may-care journey becomes a battle of wills as Jamie finds himself locking horns with his new traveling companion. But on a remote, pristine beach at the edge of the desert, the magic brew is finally imbibed, and the true adventure begins. Preconceived notions and judgments fall away, and the ragtag group breaks through to an authentic moment of truth.

Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: "CRYSTAL FAIRY charmed our entire company as one of the most original and charming films of the festival.  Michael Cera and Gabby Hoffman are wonderful in the lead parts.  In addition, we've been fans of Sebastían Silva's THE MAID and OLD CATS and are thrilled to finally be working with him on what we hope will be a great success."

Commented Silva: "Working with IFC is great news. We want our film to be seen and IFC is the best travelling companion to make that happen."

The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.

IFC Films is a sister label to IFC Midnight and Sundance Selects, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.

This is the latest acquisition for Sundance Selects/IFC Films from the festival; the IFC Films label secured rights to Michael Winterbottom’s Steve Coogan starrer-THE LOOK OF LOVE and David Lowery’s AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS. Sister label Sundance Selects acquired rights to two docs in competition at the festival — Nick Ryan’s THE SUMMIT and Richard Rowley’s DIRTY WARS.

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About IFC FILMS
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of quality talent-driven independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on cable's Video On Demand (VOD) platform, reaching nearly 50 million homes. Some of the company's successes over the years have included MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, TOUCHING THE VOID, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, GOMORRAH, CHE, SUMMER HOURS, ANTICHRIST, IN THE LOOP, ANTICHRIST, WORDPLAY, CAIRO TIME, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, TINY FURNITURE and CARLOS. Over the years, IFC Films has worked with established and breakout auteurs, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noe, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, as well as more recent breakouts such as Andrea Arnold, Mia Hansen Love, Corneliu Porombiou, Joe Swanberg, Barry Jenkins, Lena Dunham, Aaron Katz, Daryl Wein and Abdellatif Kechiche. Recent releases include PEACE, LOVE, AND MISUNDERSTANDING starring Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener; and YOUR SISTER'S SISTER starring Emily Blunt and Mark Duplass. IFC Films is a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.

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