Exclusive: Grasshopper Film Picks Up Robert Greene’s Sundance Winner ‘Kate Plays Christine’
Grasshopper Film has announced today their acquisition of all U.S. distribution rights to Robert Greene‘s critically acclaimed
documentary “Kate Plays Christine.” Starring Kate Lyn Sheil, the film won a Special Jury Prize
for Writing at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered. Grasshopper is planning on releasing the film in theaters this summer.
The feature is Greene’s fifth and, much like his previous effort “Actress,” is a clever and unnerving blend of fact and fiction. The film follows beloved indie actress Sheil as she prepares to play Christine Chubbuck, a Florida newscaster who committed suicide live on-air in 1974. As Sheil goes deeper into her process and her investigation to better understand Chubbuck, lines begin to blur, and the result is a cinematic mystery about obsession, identity and public obsession. (In a word, it’s good.)
The deal was negotiated by Ryan Krivoshey, Founder & President of Grasshopper Film, along with Linzee Troubh of Cinetic, and producers Douglas Tirola and Susan Bedusa of 4th Row Films.
“Robert first told me about his idea for ‘Kate Plays
Christine’ two years ago while working on the release of his previous film, ‘Actress.’ I knew it would be amazing, but I still wasn’t prepared for the
brilliant and audacious film that Robert would create,” Krivoshey said, who previously distributed “Actress” when he was at Cinema Guild.
He added, “‘Kate Plays Christine’ is dazzling; a real-life thriller that will enthrall audiences around the
country and leave them discussing and debating and attempting to unravel its
mysteries long after the lights go up. I couldn’t
be more thrilled to be working with Robert, Doug and Susan once again; and to
be doing it under the new company makes it that much more special.”
READ MORE: Exclusive: Independent Film Vet Ryan Krivoshey Launches New Distribution Company
Greene said, “Working with Ryan again and his new company Grasshopper
is really exciting and feels exactly right. This film couldn’t have been made
without a family of collaborators – Kate, Sean [Price Williams, cinematographer] and I have been friends for a
long time and I’ve worked with Doug and Susan at 4th Row Films for almost 15
years – so having Ryan distribute this film feels like an extension of that
familial vibe.”
He continued, “The work Ryan did with my last film ‘Actress’ was incredible. No
one is smarter at getting ambitious work in front of audiences and it’s pretty
thrilling to be among his first acquisitions at Grasshopper.”
Since launching Grasshopper in February, Krivoshey has picked up a number of exciting films, including Asghar Farhadi’s “Fireworks Wednesday,” Hong Sangsoo’s “Right Now, Wrong Then,” Laura Israel’s “Don’t Blink – Robert Frank,” Bi Gan’s “Kaili Blues” and Thom Andersen’s “The Thoughts That Once We Had.”
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Festivals newsletter here.
