NEW YORK, NY (August 6, 2021) – IFC Films has acquired North American rights to Lauren Hadaway’s award winning thriller THE NOVICE. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival where it earned glowing reviews and won the “Best Actress” Award for its lead, Isabelle Fuhrman (ORPHAN), and “Best Cinematography”, as well as the top prize of “Best U.S. Narrative Feature”. Amy Forsyth, Dilone, Kate Drummond, Jonathan Cherry, and Charlotte Ubben round out the cast. THE NOVICE was produced by Ryan Hawkins, Kari Hollend, Steven Sims, and Zack Zucker, alongside executive producers Alex Engemann, Michael Tennant, Chris Hines, Ryan Bartecki. IFC Films will release THE NOVICE on December 17th, 2021.
In THE NOVICE, queer college freshman Alex Dall (Fuhrman) joins her university’s rowing team and undertakes an obsessive physical and psychological journey to make it to the top varsity boat. Hadaway’s bold debut feature is based on personal experience as a competitive collegiate rower, and has been hailed as unapologetic and raw, posing provocative questions about the expectations imposed on young women in America and the psychologically damaging effects of a culture that encourages the pursuit of being ‘the best’ no matter the cost.
Arianna Bocco, President of IFC Films said, “We’re thrilled to introduce Lauren Hadaway to U.S. audiences with her stunning and personal debut feature THE NOVICE. Isabelle Fuhrman’s knockout performance will speak to audiences who are perfectly primed for this devastating yet all too familiar story of striving for greatness.”
Director Hadaway added, “I have visceral memories of being a 16-year-old wannabe filmmaker in small town Texas and watching IFC – it was my only way to see independent films that I couldn’t find at the local video store or movie theater. 15 years later, I’m proud to say that my first film is a part of the IFC family.”
The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films’ President Arianna Bocco and Director of Acquisitions Aijah Keith with CAA Media Finance and XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
Hadaway is represented by CAA and Bellevue Productions.
ABOUT IFC FILMS
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of 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) and digital platforms.
Current releases include the critically acclaimed and record-breaking THE DRY starring Eric Bana and horror-comedy WEREWOLVES WITHIN directed by Josh Ruben (SCARE ME). Some of the company’s successes over the years have included BOYHOOD, THE DEATH OF STALIN, FRANCES HA, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, THE BABADOOK, TOUCHING THE VOID, 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS, CHE, SUMMER HOURS, ANTICHRIST, IN THE LOOP, JOAN RIVERS: A PIECE OF WORK, TINY FURNITURE, and CARLOS. IFC Films has worked with established and breakout filmmakers, including Steven Soderbergh, Gus Van Sant, Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Miranda July, Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noé, Todd Solondz, Cristian Mungiu, Susanne Bier, Olivier Assayas, Jim McKay, Larry Fessenden, Paul Dano, Gregg Araki, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol, Abdellatif Kechiche, Kore-eda Hirokazu, Abbas Kiarostami, Alfonso Cuaron, Noah Baumbach, Lena Dunham, Ethan Hawke and many more. IFC Films is a sister label to IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.