IFC Films

IFC FILMS DISCOVERS THE MAN BEHIND THE ICON IN BOWIE PIC ‘STARDUST’

FROM PRODUCERS OF ‘MCQUEEN’, STARRING JOHNNY FLYNN AND MARC MARON

NEW YORK, NY (August 19, 2020) — IFC Films announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to David Bowie glam-rock, road-trip film STARDUST, starring award-winning actor and musician Johnny Flynn (EMMA.) as the legendary music icon, with comedian, podcaster, and actor Marc Maron (GLOW, SWORD OF TRUST) and indie starlet Jena Malone (ANTEBELLUM) as Bowie’s wife Angie. The film is directed by Gabriel Range and co-written with Christopher Bell. Producing is Paul Van Carter (MCQUEEN) and Nick Taussig (MCQUEEN) of Salon Pictures alongside Matt Code (RANDOM ACTS OF VIOLENCE, DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL), with executive producers Fabien Westerhoff, Christopher Figg, Robert Whitehouse, and Saskia Thomas.STARDUST was an official selection at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival and will world premiere at Rome Film Festival in October 2020. IFC Films plans to release the film in Q4 2020.

Meet David before Bowie. One of the greatest icons in music history; but who was the young man behind the many faces? In 1971, a 24-year-old David Bowie (Johnny Flynn) embarks on his first road trip to America with Mercury Records publicist Ron Oberman (Marc Maron), only to be met with a world not yet ready for him. STARDUST offers a glimpse behind the curtain of the moments that inspired the creation of Bowie’s first and most memorable alter ego Ziggy Stardust, capturing the turning point that cemented his career as one of the world’s greatest cultural icons.

Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films said, “STARDUST isn’t the traditional film we are used to seeing when it comes to profiling life-changing cultural icons like David Bowie.  It takes a fresh perspective on the rock movie genre and the memorable performances by Johnny Flynn and Marc Maron give this rarely told story a new life.  We are thrilled to be working with our friends at Film Constellation and the very talented filmmaking team to bring this film to US audiences.”

Director Gabriel Range added, “STARDUST is about a key stretch of the journey Bowie took to become the artist we love. I’m delighted by IFC’s passion and enthusiasm for our film and excited to see it in theatres in the fall.”

The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films’ EVP of Acquisitions and Productions Arianna Bocco with Fabien Westerhoff of Film Constellation on behalf of the filmmakers.

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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 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) and digital platforms.

Upcoming releases include THE NEST directed by Sean Durkin (MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE) and OTTOLENGHI AND THE CAKES OF VERSAILLES directed by IFC alum Laura Gabbert (CITY OF GOLD).  Some of the company’s successes over the years have included BOYHOOD, THE DEATH OF STALIN, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, THE BABADOOK, TOUCHING THE VOID, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, CHE, SUMMER HOURS, ANTICHRIST, IN THE LOOP, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, TINY FURNITURE, and CARLOS. IFC Films has worked with established and breakout filmmakers, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noé, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Paul Dano, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, Abdellatif Kechiche, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Abbas Kiarostami, Alfonso Cuaron, Noah Baumbach, Lena Dunham, Ethan Hawke and many more. IFC Films is a sister label to Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.

 

ABOUT FILM CONSTELLATION

FILM CONSTELLATION’s current slate includes US box office horror hit RELIC by Nathalie Erika James, Berlinale Encounters title FUNNY FACE by Tim Sutton, Sundance award winning FAREWELL AMOR by Ekwa Msangi, and Daniel Calparsoro’s SKY HIGH with Universal Releasing.

Film Constellation is a production, finance and sales company headquartered in London. The company builds on a track record for growing award-winning filmmaker brands, working with new and established talent, and fostering strong producer ties across both sides of the Atlantic. Since inception in 2016, the company has packaged, produced and sold over 20 commercially and critically acclaimed films and documentaries, premiering at A-class film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, Sundance and Berlin. It continues to build an exciting slate of talents including Werner Herzog, David Lynch, Rebecca Hall, Annie Silverstein, Peter Sarsgaard, Paco Plaza, Michaela Coel, Eran Riklis, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Pella Kågerman, Antonio Mendez Esparza, Steven Caple Jr. and Gabriel Range among others.

Press Contacts

  • Laura Sok
    VP, Publicity | IFC Films | IFC Midnight
    11 Penn Plaza, 17th Floor, NYC
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