Sundance Selects Acquires U.S. and Canadian Rights to Rachel Dretzin's Documentary Far From the Tree, From Participant

Sundance Selects Acquires U.S. and Canadian Rights to Rachel Dretzin's Documentary Far From the Tree, From Participant

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Participant

NEW YORK, NY (November 9, 2017) – Sundance Selects announced today that the company is acquiring U.S. and Canadian rights to Rachel Dretzin’s documentary, FAR FROM THE TREE, ahead of its world premiere on November 10 at DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival. The premiere screening at the festival sold out in record time, with two additional screenings added to the schedule due to popular demand. From Participant Media, in association with Flux Films an Ark Media production, FAR FROM THE TREE was produced by Dretzin, Solomon and Jamila Ephron. Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Diane Weyermann serve as executive producers, along with Mary Bing of Flux Films. The film is slated for theatrical release during summer 2018.

Based on the award-winning book by acclaimed author Andrew Solomon, FAR FROM THE TREE is an inspiring look at the difficulties and rewards of both raising and being a child whose life is vastly different from that of his or her parents. Directed and produced by Emmy® Award-winner Dretzin, the film follows several families as they cope with the challenges presented by Down syndrome, dwarfism, autism and even having a child in prison. The film shares their intimate stories with touching candor, and in doing so reveals basic truths about all parents and all children, truths of acceptance and love that feel especially urgent at this historic moment.

Solomon commented on the news, saying: “I was delighted to find in Rachel Dretzin a filmmaker who could translate my book into a gorgeous and compelling film, and now I’m thrilled that the film has found in Sundance Selects a distributor who shares our vision. This will be the perfect path for this deeply moving film to meet its audience.”

Dretzin added: “Sundance Selects has a fantastic track record and their plans for the film are very much in sync with what we had hoped for. It's a delight and an honor to have them on board.”

FAR FROM THE TREE is an inspiring and irresistibly moving journey into the differences that make us who we are. It builds on Andrew Solomon’s landmark book to paint a complex and universal portrait of acceptance with an empathy and scale that only true cinema can do,” said Jonathan Sehring and Lisa Schwartz, co-Presidents of Sundance Selects/IFC Films.

On behalf of the producing partners, Weyermann and Bing said in a joint statement: “We are so excited to have found such incredible partners in Sundance Selects and are delighted to bring this very special film to audiences next summer.”

The film features original music by Yo La Tengo and Nico Muhly. Cinematography is by Sam Russell and Wolfgang Held, with Ben Gold serving as editor. Jamila Ephron co-directed and Steve Golliday co-edited.

The deal was negotiated by Josh Braun of Submarine and Gabe Brakin and Krista Wegener of Participant for the filmmakers, along with Arianna Bocco from Sundance Selects/IFC Films.

 

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. Upcoming releases include Jonas Carpignano’s A CIAMBRA, Claire Denis’ LET THE SUNSHINE IN and LOVE AFTER LOVE, starring Andie McDowell and Chris O’Dowd. Recent releases include Mia Hansen-Love’s award-winning THINGS TO COME starring Isabelle Huppert, Josh Kriegman and Elyse Sternberg’s Sundance Documentary grand jury prize winner WEINER; Andrew Haigh’s Oscar-nominated 45 YEARS, starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay; Olivier Assayas’ CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA, starring Juliette Binoche and Kirsten Stewart; Christian Petzold’s PHOENIX; and Laura Gabbert’s CITY OF GOLD. Previous releases include the Dardenne Brothers’ Oscar-nominated TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT; David France’s Oscar-nominated documentary HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE; Wim Wenders’ Oscar-nominated documentary PINA; Werner Herzog’s CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS; Abdellatif Kechiche’s award-winning BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, starring Adèle Exarchopoulos; and John Maloof and Charlie Siskel’s Oscar-nominated FINDING VIVIAN MAIER. Sundance Selects is a sister label to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.