Greenwich Entertainment and 1091 have acquired the North American rights to the rock documentary “Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice” and plan to release the film in theaters this September, the companies announced Monday.
CNN Films, who also produced co-financed the documentary with PCH Films, has also acquired the North American broadcast TV rights for North America.
“The Sound of My Voice” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and also won an audience award for documentaries at the Provincetown International Film Festival.
The film includes archival footage spanning 50 years, following her from the start of her career in the 1960s through becoming the highest paid female rock and roll performer in the ’70s, all culminating in her retirement in 2011 due to her battle with Parkinson’s disease. Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Brown and JD Souther are just some of the friends and collaborators interviewed for the film.
Oscar winners Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (“The Life and Times of Harvey Milk,” “Common Threads”) directed the documentary, and James Keach and Michele Farinola produced along with CNN Films. Amy Entelis and Courtney Sexton for CNN Worldwide and CNN Films are both executive producers.
“Linda Ronstadt is a rock icon who has wowed audiences across the world for decades and is a staunch human rights advocate,” Danielle DiGiacomo, SVP of acquisitions and strategic partnerships for 1091, and Ed Arentz, co-managing director of Greenwich Entertainment, said in a joint statement. “We’re excited to partner with Rob, Jeffrey, James, Michele and CNN to bring this powerful documentary to audiences across the country.”
“Rob and Jeffrey have crafted an inspirational exploration of a singularly exceptional talent and humanitarian,” Entelis and Sexton said in a statement.
“It was a privilege to be entrusted by Linda to make this film,” Epstein and Friedman said in a statement. “We hope audiences have as much fun watching it as we had making it.”
“We are excited to be working with 1091 Media, Greenwich Entertainment and CNN. They will ensure that Linda’s legacy will be shared throughout the world and help pave the way for future generations of Latin X and visionary performers to realize their dreams,” the producer Keach said in a statement.
The deal was negotiated by 1091’s Danielle DiGiacomo, Greenwich’s Ed Arentz and Eric Sloss of Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers, and by Stacey Wolf, vice president for Business Affairs for CNN Worldwide, on behalf of CNN.
This is the fourth collaboration between 1091 Media and CNN Films following “Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent,” “Trophy” and “Halston.”
The news of the acquisition was first reported by Deadline.