Sundance Selects Sashays “Pina” to the U.S.
U.S. rights to Wim Wenders’ “Pina” have been picked up by Sundance Selects, the company said Thursday. An in-depth look into the work of iconic dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch, world-premiered at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival in February.
Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects negotiated the pact with Tim Haslam, CEO of Hanway Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
In related news, HanWay Films has licensed “Pina” in over 40 territories internationally. Sundance Selects is a sister division to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by Rainbow Media.
Full release follows:
Sundance Selects announced today that the company is acquiring all U.S. rights to celebrated director Wim Wenders’ (WINGS OF DESIRE, BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB) 3D documentary PINA. Wenders also wrote the screenplay for the picture and produced it along with Gian-Piero Ringel (PALERMO SHOOTING, ORLY). PINA, an in-depth look into the work of iconic dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch, world-premiered at the 2011 Berlin Film Festival where it became the most discussed film of the festival.
In addition, HanWay Films has licensed PINA in over 40 territories internationally.
Dancer Pina Bausch is legendary. As celebrated as Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham, she transformed the language of dance. Designed to ignite emotion in the viewer, her unique multi-media creations offered a visual experience like no other. Now we can experience the synesthesia of her elemental choreography as if performed for us in the flesh. Filmed by the great European pioneer of 3D photography, Alain Derobe, this revolutionary 3D film captures the thrilling aesthetic of Pina Bausch’s greatest productions.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects, said: “Since the Berlinale ended, our team has remained completely mesmerized by Wim Wenders tribute to the legendary late choreographer Pina Bausch. This one-of-a-kind spectacle is going to knock out not only dance fans but anyone interested in great cinema. This is Wim Wenders at the top of his game, and we couldn’t be happier to be in business with him and our friends at Hanway Films again.”
The deal for PINA was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects with Tim Haslam, CEO of Hanway Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
PINA has so far grossed in excess of $4 million in Germany in its first four weeks and premieres in France on April 6th and in the UK on April 12th ahead of its April 22nd theatrical bow.
Sundance Selects is a sister division to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by Rainbow Media.
About Sundance Selects:
Established in 2009 and based in New York City, Sundance Selects is a leading U.S. distributor of prestige films focusing on American independents, documentaries and world cinema. Its unique distribution model makes independent prestige 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 include Spike Lee’s PASSING STRANGE: THE MOVIE, Gregg Araki’s KABOOM, Aaron Katz’s COLD WEATHER and famed Iranian auteur Abbas Kiarostami’s CERTIFIED COPY which won Juliette Binoche the prize for Best Actress at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. Upcoming Sundance Selects releases include master director Errol Morris’ documentary TABLOID, Werner Herzog’s 3D documentary CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, and the 2011 Sundance Audience Award winner BUCK, directed by Cindy Meehl. Sundance Selects is a sister division to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by Rainbow Media.
