New York, NY July 26, 2011 – Sundance Selects announced today that the company is acquiring U.S. rights to director Nanni Moretti’s (Palme d'Or winner THE SON’S ROOM, DEAR DIARY) comedic drama HABEMUS PAPAM. Moretti produced the film with Domenico Procacci (GOMORRAH, QUIET CHAOS) and co-wrote the film with Francesco Piccolo and Federica Pontremoli. He also stars in it alongside veteran actor Michel Piccoli (CONTEMPT, THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE) and Jerzy Stuhr. HABEMUS PAPAM had its premiere at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival in competition. It will next screen at the Toronto International Film Festival as a Special Presentation in September.
In HABEMUS PAPAM, the newly elected Pope (Piccoli) suffers a panic attack just as he is due to appear on St Peter’s balcony to greet the faithful, who have been patiently awaiting the conclave’s decision. His advisors, unable to convince him he is the right man for the job, seek help from a renowned psychoanalyst and atheist (Moretti). But his fear of the responsibility suddenly thrust upon him is one that he must face on his own.
Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: "HABEMUS PAPAM is masterfully directed by Nanni Moretti with equal measures of poignancy and comedy. The always fantastic Michel Piccoli gives one of his finest performances in this film. We couldn't be happier to be working with not only Nanni Moretti but also to continue our relationship with Domenico Procacci and Janine Gold of Fandango Portobello after our release of GOMORRAH, QUIET CHAOS and the upcoming THE FORGIVENESS OF BLOOD."
The deal for HABEMUS PAPAM was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Productions Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Janine Gold of Fandango Portobello on behalf of the filmmakers.
Sundance Selects is a sister division to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.
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. Its unique distribution model makes independent prestige 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 include Abbas Kiarostami’s CERTIFIED COPY starring Juliette Binoche, Sundance audience award-winner BUCK, Academy Award® winner Errol Morris’ documentary TABLOID, and Werner Herzog’s 3D documentary CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, which at $4.9 million and counting has become the company’s biggest grossing success since MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING. Upcoming Sundance Selects releases include Sundance award-winning THE BLACK POWER MIXTAPE: 1967-1974, SXSW award-winner WEEKEND, director Wim Wenders' 3D PINA, Cannes Grand Prix winner THE KID WITH A BIKE directed by the Dardennes brothers, and Maiwenn's Cannes Prix du Jury winner POLISS. Sundance Selects is a sister division to IFC Films and IFC Midnight, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks, Inc.