THINKFilm Boards SHORTBUS

THINKFilm Boards SHORTBUS

NEW YORK, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- THINKFilm has acquired all North American rights to SHORTBUS, John Cameron Mitchell's eagerly anticipated sophomore film, which had its rousingly successful world premiere as a special out-of-competition presentation at the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival. The deal, which concludes one of the most competitive and far-ranging bidding wars in recent independent film history, was jointly announced by THINKFilm President and C.E.O. Jeff Sackman, and the film's producers, Howard Gertler and Tim Perell of Process and John Cameron Mitchell. THINKFilm will open the film commercially this fall.

Written and directed by Mitchell (who previously starred in and directed the film adaptation of his international stage hit, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH), SHORTBUS explores the lives of several characters living in present-day New York as they navigate the comic and tragic intersections between love and sex. Male and female, straight and gay, the characters find one and other -- and eventually find themselves -- when they all converge at a weekly underground salon called "Shortbus," a mad nexus of art, music, politics, and polysexual carnality. Mitchell developed the film's story along with his ensemble cast, all of whom are making their feature film debuts and who were selected after submitting videotaped interviews/auditions in response to a well-publicized open casting call posted on a website. Over a half million people visited the website and nearly 500 people sent in tapes before the final seven leading performers/characters were selected to workshop the storyline with Mitchell.

About the acquisition Sackman says, "We pursued SHORTBUS aggressively from the moment we saw it in Cannes and witnessed the audience's overwhelming response. Considering how many offers they received from such a wide variety of distributors, we are extremely pleased and proud that the filmmakers recognized our unique abilities as well as our company-wide enthusiasm for their film." Mark Urman, who heads THINKFilm's theatrical division adds, "People will be talking about SHORTBUS for months and years to come, and not because it is daring -- which it is -- but because it is so darned original and entertaining. In fact, John's approach to adult intimacy is so buoyant, natural, and humorous that audiences will be too busy enjoying themselves to be shocked!"

The filmmakers add, "It was a difficult process assessing all of the excellent and aggressive offers we received, but Think's success with challenging material and their passion won us over. We're thrilled to work with the most daring and imaginative company around."

A Process production presented by Fortissimo Films in association with Q Television, SHORTBUS stars Sook-Yin Lee, Paul Dawson, Lindsay Beamish, PJ DeBoy, Raphael Barker, Jay Brannan, Peter Stickles, and Justin Bond. Frank DeMarco was director of photography, Brian A. Kates edited the film, Jody Asnes was production designer, Kurt and Bart were costume designers, and Yo La Tengo created the original score. John Bair created the stunning animated sequences that are used to link the various characters and re-create the sprawling topography of New York City. Michael J. Werner and Wouter Barendrecht of Fortissimo, who are handling all international sales for the film, served as executive producers.

The deal was negotiated by CAA on behalf of the filmmakers, and by Executive VP of Acquisitions and Business Affairs Randy Manis on behalf of THINKFilm.

THINKFilm's forthcoming releases include STRANGERS WITH CANDY, the feature adaptation of the Comedy Central cult-hit series, created by and starring Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello, which opens June 28th, and HALF NELSON, the highly acclaimed drama starring Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie and Shareeka Epps, which opens August 11th. Next up for Perell and Gertler's Process is TRUST THE MAN, starring Julianne Moore, David Duchovny, Billy Crudup and Maggie Gyllenhaal, which opens August 18th.

Contact:
Alex Klenert, THINKFilm, (212) 444-7900, aklenert@thinkfilmcompany.com
Tom Piechura, The Dart Group, (212) 277-7555, tompiechura@thedartgroup.net

Source: THINKFilm

CONTACT: Alex Klenert of THINKFilm, +1-212-444-7900,
aklenert@thinkfilmcompany.com; or Tom Piechura of The Dart Group,
+1-212-277-7555, tompiechura@thedartgroup.net, for THINKFilm

Web site: http://www.thinkfilmcompany.com/

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