"Direct From SXSW" to feature three films premiering simultaneously at SXSW and nationally via IFC Films’ on demand cable platform:
Bryan Poyser’s Sundance hit LOVERS OF HATE, just acquired by IFC Films
Shane Meadows’ hilarious comedy LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE
Emmett Malloy’s documentary THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS
New York, NY – March 4, 2010 – IFC Films, the leading foreign and independent film distributor and an innovator in the movies-on-demand alternative film distribution movement, announced today its second annual partnership with Austin’s South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival, one of America’s most vibrant and exciting film festivals, in which three films screening at SXSW will simultaneously be available nationwide via the movies-on-demand platform of major national cable systems. Following last year’s partnership, which helped bring Joe Swanberg’s ALEXANDER THE LAST significant national attention, this year’s program offers simultaneous festival and on demand premieres of three new films: Bryan Poyser’s LOVERS OF HATE, Shane Meadows’ LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE and Emmett Malloy’s THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS. Also available exclusively on demand are two acclaimed films from SXSW 2009: Daryl Wein’s BREAKING UPWARDS and John Bryant’s THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS.
Beginning simultaneously with the start of SXSW, the films featured in the "Direct From SXSW" partnership will be available on the movies-on-demand page of most major cable systems, including Cablevision, Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner and Bright House, and will be available in approximately 40 million homes.
Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Entertainment, said, "Last year’s collaboration with SXSW was truly groundbreaking, and we are thrilled to be partnering with them again to bring an exceptional new selection of films to a wide national audience."
Janet Pierson, Conference & Festival Producer, SXSW, said: "We’re all thrilled to be working with IFC Films again to bring the SXSW experience to a national audience. It’s important to us to continue to help filmmakers find bigger audiences both during and after the festival and this is a great opportunity."
Films selected for "Direct from SXSW" are:
Premiering at SXSW on Monday, March 15th is Austin-based Bryan Poyser’s acclaimed LOVERS OF HATE. A savage comedy about deceit and sibling rivalry, LOVERS OF HATE centers on two estranged brothers, Rudy (THE CASSIDY KIDS’ Chris Doubek) and Paul (BEESWAX’s Alex Karpovsky), who have nothing in common but their love for the same woman, Rudy’s soon-to-be ex-wife Diana (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE’s Heather Kafka). When opportunistic Paul whisks Diana away to a romantic mountain retreat, he has no idea that Rudy has made it there first, and from the shadows of the posh chalet, Rudy tries desperately to sabotage the relationship. LOVERS OF HATE, which had its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival, and played there in competition, is produced by Megan Gilbride (THE CASSIDY KIDS) and executive produced by Athina Rachel Tsangari (DOGTOOTH), and Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass (THE PUFFY CHAIR, CYRUS). LOVERS OF HATE is the 2nd feature directed by Bryan Poyser to be showcased at SXSW. His first, DEAR PILLOW, earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination in 2005.
Making its North American premiere at SXSW on Tuesday, March 16 is the comedy LE DONK & SCOR-ZAY-ZEE from acclaimed British director Shane Meadows (THIS IS ENGLAND). In the spirit of SPINAL TAP and A MIGHTY WIND, the film is a highly improvised comedy about rock roadie and failed musician Le Donk (IN AMERICA’s Paddy Considine). Le Donk is a bit of a loser; he’s recently lost his girlfriend (Olivia Colman), his career is dead-in-the-water, and his life has completely gone down the tubes. So he tries to turn his life around by making rap prodigy Scor-zay-zee (real life Nottingham-based rapper also known as Dean Palinczuk) a star, with a little help from the rock band the Arctic Monkeys. Meadows’ film, which follows the duo on a hilarious journey to improbable rock stardom, is an unpredictable, irrepressible ode to spontaneous filmmaking. Made in five days, LE DONK is the first in what Meadows hopes will be a wave of five-day features designed to encourage first-time filmmakers.
Having its US premiere at SXSW and on-demand on Friday March 12 is Emmett Malloy’s THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS, a visually and emotionally powerful feature length concert film documenting The White Stripes groundbreaking 2007 tour of Canada which culminated in a spectacular 10th anniversary show at the historic Savoy Theatre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. An intimate look at an enigmatic band, THE WHITE STRIPES UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS documents a wide array of shows played at off-kilter venues including local bowling alleys and city buses. Along the way, the cameras capture the life of one of music’s most mysterious duos, Jack and Meg White, as they share casual conversations, fire cannons, and play a ’one note show.’ The limited edition box set, DVD and soundtrack for the film will be released on March 16th, and are available for pre-order at www.whitestripes.com.
LOVERS OF HATE director Bryan Poyser commented, ""I’m thrilled that LOVERS OF HATE has found a home at IFC Films, which has been at the forefront of developing new ways to get great films to audiences. I’m doubly thrilled that the film’s unique release will coincide with what is, without a doubt, my favorite 10 days of the year – the SXSW Film Festival, a home for my work for years."
Also included as part of the initiative are two celebrated films from the 2009 SXSW Festival: BREAKING UPWARDS, Daryl Wein’s acclaimed romantic comedy centering on a young New York couple who decide to strategize their own break up; and John Bryan’s road-trip comedy THE OVERBROOK BROTHERS, about two bitter, arch rival brothers who discover they’re adopted and begin a hilarious cross-country journey in search of their biological parents. These films will also be available in the special "SXSW" branded section on each cable company’s main movies-on-demand channel. BREAKING UPWARDS will be released theatrically in NY on April 2nd; LA on April 9th; with other cities to follow.
About IFC Entertainment
A leader in the independent film industry, IFC Entertainment consists of multiple brands that are devoted to bringing the best of specialty films to the largest possible audience: IFC Films, Festival Direct, IFC Productions, and the IFC Center. IFC Films is a leading distributor of independent film. Its unique day and date distribution model, ’IFC In Theaters,’ makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them simultaneously in theaters as well as on cable’s On Demand platform and through Pay-Per-View, reaching 50 million homes. ’IFC Festival Direct’ features a wide selection of titles acquired from major international film festivals and offers them exclusively through Video on Demand. IFC Productions is a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects. IFC Center is a five screen, state-of-the-art cinema with luxurious seating and HD digital and 35mm projection that shows art-house films in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. IFC Entertainment’s companies are subsidiaries of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Festival Direct, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.
About South by Southwest Film Conference & Festival
The SXSW Film Conference and Festival is a uniquely creative environment featuring the dynamic convergence of talent, smart audiences and industry heavyweights. A hotbed of discovery and interactivity, the event offers lucrative networking opportunities and immersion into the art and business of the rapidly evolving world of independent film.
Over the first five days, the Film Conference buzzes as world-class speakers, creative minds, and notable mentors tackle the latest filmmaking trends amidst the unmatched social atmosphere of the SXSW experience. Simultaneously, the internationally acclaimed, nine-day Festival celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, with a truly diverse program ranging from provocative documentaries to subversive Hollywood comedies. For more information, visit www.sxsw.com/film.