New York, NY – February 18, 2012 – IFC Films announced today that the company is acquiring North American rights to directors Philip Dorling and Ron Nyswaner’s PREDISPOSED. The film, with a screenplay also by Dorling and Nyswaner, stars Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo, Tracy Morgan, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Sarah Ramos, and Emma Rayne Lyle. Nyswaner, Neda Armian, Brice Dal Farra, Claude Dal Farra, Lauren Munsch, and Paul Prokop produced the project, which premiered earlier this year at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
PREDISPOSED tells the bittersweet story of Eli Smith (Eisenberg), a piano prodigy, and his mother Penny (Leo) who despite her cheerful, loving disposition, struggles with drug addiction. On the day of his audition for a prestigious music program, Eli’s mother plans to enter rehab, but a glitch in the system forces them to enlist the help of an unlikely ally, her drug dealer Sprinkles (Morgan). Circumstances conspire that turn them into a comical yet determined band of collaborators who are forced to deal with their internal demons over the course of the day.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: "Phil Dorling and Ron Nyswaner have made a film as funny as it is moving with PREDISPOSED featuring terrific performances from Jesse Eisenberg, Melissa Leo and Tracy Morgan. We look forward to working with them all as well as continuing our relationship with BCDF Pictures."
In a joint statement, BCDF Pictures & Armian Pictures commented, "We could not be more pleased to be working with IFC on the release of PREDISPOSED. We love IFC’s classy taste and their passion for the film is unparalleled. They will be the perfect team to work with such a remarkable cast and bring this film to audiences."
Noted Dorling and Nyswaner: "We are delighted to have IFC releasing our film. IFC is synonymous with independent filmmaking, and we are confident in their ability to distribute the picture."
The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with ICM and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. ICM also represents Eisenberg and Ramos.
IFC Films is a sister division to IFC Midnight and Sundance Selects, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
About IFC FILMS
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of quality talent-driven independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent 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 over the years have included My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Touching the Void, 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, Gomorrah, Che, Summer Hours, Antichrist, In the Loop, Antichrist, Wordplay, Cairo Time, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, Tiny Furniture and Carlos. Over the years, IFC Films has worked with established and breakout auteurs, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noe, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, as well as more recent breakouts such as Andrea Arnold, Mia Hansen Love, Corneliu Porombiou, Joe Swanberg, Barry Jenkins, Lena Dunham, Aaron Katz, Daryl Wein and Abdellatif Kechiche. IFC Films is a sister division to Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.