NEW YORK, NY (April 09, 2019) — IFC Films announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to Michael Tyburski’s debut feature THE SOUND OF SILENCE, co-written by Michael Tyburski and Ben Nabors, starring Peter Sarsgaard (AN EDUCATION, BOYS DON’T CRY), Rashida Jones (PARKS AND RECREATION, CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER), Tony Revolori (THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, DOPE), and Austin Pendleton (WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS, A BEAUTIFUL MIND). The film is produced by Ben Nabors, Michael Prall, Anonymous Content’s Tariq Merhab and Charlie Scully, and Keshet Films’ Mandy Tagger Brockley and Adi Ezroni. THE SOUND OF SILENCE, based on the short film PALIMPSEST, which received a Special Jury Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, returned to Sundance in 2019 for its World Premiere in the U.S. Dramatic competition. The film will be released theatrically in 2019.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE follows a self-taught scientist, Peter (Sarsgaard), working in New York City as a “house tuner”—a unique, highly specialized profession he’s invented. His clients approach him with troubles like depression, anxiety, or fatigue. After extensive analysis of their homes’ acoustic characteristics, he identifies some sonic combination that’s altering their mood —a radiator mixed with a kitchen appliance, for instance— and is able to calibrate it. But following a routine house call where he meets Ellen (Jones), who is experiencing exhaustion, Peter obsessively searches for the fault in his practice after his initial conclusion proves incorrect.
THE SOUND OF SILENCE is a serene contemplation of people living in their modern environment—and their desire to understand and even control it.
Arianna Bocco EVP of Acquisitions and Productions of IFC Films said, “We’re thrilled to be able to work with extraordinary new voices like writer/director Michael Tyburski. There is a quiet brilliance to this film that we believe will translate widely and loudly to audiences across the U.S.”
Michael Tyburski added, “This movie has been years in the making, so I’m very excited for audiences to finally be able to both see and hear it theatrically. And I am humbled to work with the trusted team at IFC Films on the release – who have an absolutely incredible track record for curating some of the finest works in the independent scene.”
The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco and UTA on behalf of the filmmakers.
###
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) platform, reaching nearly 50 million homes. Upcoming releases include DONNYBROOK directed by Tim Sutton, NON-FICTION directed by Olivier Assayas and THE WEDDING GUEST directed by Michael Winterbottom. 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.