Sundance: IFC Films Acquires North American Rights to ‘Cold in July’

Jim Mickle’s revenge drama will get theatrical and VOD release this summer

IFC Films has acquired domestic distribution rights to Sundance drama “Cold in July” and plans to release it theatrically and on video on demand this summer, the company said Wednesday from Park City, Utah.

“Cold in July” was directed by Jim Mickle, who also co-wrote with Nick Damici, and stars Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell and Damici. The film made its world premiere in the festival’s U.S. Dramatic Competition section.

The film is based on Joe R. Lansdale’s novel of the same name and set in 1989 Texas. In it, Richard Dane (Hall) puts a bullet in the brain of low-life burglar Freddy Russell. Although he’s hailed as a small-town hero, Dane soon finds himself fearing for his family’s safety when Freddy’s ex-con father, Ben (Shepherd), rolls into town, bent on revenge.

Also read: WaxWord: 5 Cold Truths From an Uninspiring Sundance

“Cold in July” was produced by Linda Moran, René Bastian of Belladonna Productions, along with Marie Savare de Laitre and Adam Folk, and executive produced by Jean-Baptiste Babin, Emilie Georges, Manuel Chiche, David Atlan-Jackson and Joël Thibout.

“This is the perfect fit for our film,” Mickle said in a statement. “Seven years ago we set out to bring Joe’s work to the big screen, so to be back at Sundance with this film and this incredible cast makes it all worth it. So far the response has been beyond our wildest dreams.”

The deal for the film was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, senior vice-president of acquisitions at Sundance Selects/IFC Films, with WME Global on behalf of the filmmakers.

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