Magnolia Pictures Guzzles Up ‘Drinking Buddies’

Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American distribution rights to Joe Swanberg’s “Drinking Buddies,” which premiered last week at the SXSW Film Festival.

The prolific Swanberg’s latest feature marks a notable change of pace for the filmmaker, as it’s his first feature to include major stars. Olivia Wilde and Anna Kendrick star in the romantic comedy, which also features performances by Ron Livingston and Jake Johnson. The movie revolves around a pair of co-workers at brewery whose hidden attractions for one another eventually stir up drama with their significant others. The film recently won Best Ensemble in Indiewire’s Criticwire poll at the festival.

Reviewing the film at the festival, Indiewire’s Eric Kohn gave it an A- and wrote that “while most of Swanberg’s preceding features have amounted to sketches, the latest is a full-bodied achievement.” The movie currently holds an A- average on Criticwire.

“Drinking Buddies” was executive produced by Mike Witherill, Ashley Bernon, Jessica Klapman, David Kaplan, Anish Savjani, and Wilde. Magnolia Pictures is planning a theatrical release for later this year.

The deal for the film was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Director of Acquisitions Peter van Steemberg, with CAA on behalf of the filmmakers and producers.