Distrib Gets NA Rights to Sundance Comedy From the Producers of GARDEN STATE, WAITRESS, MARGARET and THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
New York, NY – May 14, 2012 – IFC Films announced today that the company is acquiring all North American rights to director Michael Mohan's modern romantic comedy SAVE THE DATE. The film, with a screenplay co-written by Mohan, acclaimed graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown, and Egan Reich, stars Lizzy Caplan (BACHELORETTE, MEAN GIRLS), Alison Brie (MAD MEN, COMMUNITY), Martin Starr (KNOCKED UP), Geoffrey Arend (500 DAYS OF SUMMER), and Mark Webber (SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD.) Jordan Horowitz, Michael Roiff, and Michael Huffington produced the project, with Gary Gilbert executive producing. SAVE THE DATE made its world premiere earlier this year in dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
The production team behind SAVE THE DATE boasts an impressive collection of past titles. Gilbert Films (Gilbert and Horowitz) has produced such acclaimed projects as hit comedy Zach Braff’s GARDEN STATE starring Braff and Natalie Portman, Lisa Cholodenko's Academy Award-nominated THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT starring Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, and Kenneth Lonergan's MARGARET starring Anna Paquin and Mark Ruffalo. The company is also currently in production on YOU ARE HERE, written and directed by Matthew Weiner (MAD MEN) and starring Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, and Amy Poehler. Night and Day Pictures (Roiff) produced the romantic comedy WAITRESS starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion and just wrapped IN YOUR EYES, which was written and executive produced by Joss Whedon. Huffington Productions (Huffington) just completed production on writer/director Stephen Gyllenhaal's GRASSROOTS starring Cobie Smulders, Jason Biggs and Lauren Ambrose.
In SAVE THE DATE, fiercely independent Sarah (Caplan) breaks up with her overeager boyfriend Kevin (Arend) and finds herself caught-up in an intense rebound relationship with new infatuation Jonathan (Webber). Always one to give life advice is Sarah’s sister Beth (Brie), who is diligently planning her upcoming wedding to apprehensive fiancé – and Kevin’s band mate – Andrew (Starr). With heart and humor, all five struggle with the trials, happiness, and pain of modern love. Simple and honest and always human, SAVE THE DATE is a contemporary story about the familial and romantic bonds that make us who we are.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: "Michael Mohan has made an emotionally moving and often very funny film about commitment, skillfully transplanting Jeffrey Brown’s graphic novels. We look forward to working with the team and this amazing young ensemble cast to bring this film to the largest possible audience."
Noted Mohan: "I am genuinely ecstatic that the handsome people at IFC Films are releasing our movie. The task of adapting Jeffrey Brown’s voice to the screen was one that was handled with absolute care and love, not only by myself, but by my entire crew. I couldn’t be happier that our awesome creative family has expanded just a bit further with IFC, who – as they bring the film to a larger audience – will maintain that spirit."
The deal for the film was negotiated by Jeff Deutchman, Director of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with CAA and XYZ Films 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.
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. Upcoming IFC Films releases include Lynn Shelton’s YOUR SISTER’S SISTER with Emily Blunt, Rosemarie Dewitt & Mark Duplass, Bruce Beresford’s PEACE LOVE AND MISUNDERSTANDING starring 2 time Academy Award winner Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen, and Walter Salles' ON THE ROAD starring Garrett Hedlund, Sam Riley, Kristen Stewart and Kirsten Dunst which will be jointly released with Sundance Selects. IFC Films is a sister division to Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.