Hulu has closed an output deal that will make it the exclusive streaming home for all future documentary releases from IFC Films, which will include projects from IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight.
The multi-year agreement announced Wednesday by the companies marks the first time IFC’s documentary films will be available on Hulu within the first window following their initial release in theaters and on-demand.
Any shift in the landscape of movie distribution periods is closely watched by the industry, as the studios, indie filmmakers and movie theaters grapple with the idea of getting films to consumers more quickly while protecting the exhibitors’ theatrical returns. Currently, there’s typically a three-month window between the release of first-run movies and their availability on VOD, with streaming after that.
The first IFC documentary feature to premiere on Hulu will be “King Georges,” in theaters and on-demand Feb 26, and available on Hulu this fall. It captures Georges Perrier, the 67-year-old owner of Le Bec-Fin, one of the finest French restaurants in the country, as he prepares to sell after more four decades.
“City of Gold,” a documentary that follows Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold, will also become exclusive to Hulu following its theatrical release on March 11. In addition, the deal will bring the Sundance Selects documentary “Weiner,” about Anthony Weiner and his failed New York City mayoral campaign, to Hulu following its run on Showtime.
“Hulu is the ideal partner for first window exhibition and will provide a terrific opportunity in promoting each films’ theatrical release,” said IFC Lisa Schwartz, executive v.p., distribution, operations and business development.
The agreement represents an expansion of Hulu’s partnership with AMC Networks, which owns and operates IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight as sister labels. Last year, Hulu and AMC Networks announced an output deal for the exclusive streaming video on demand rights to new and upcoming primetime scripted drama and comedy series from AMC, IFC TV, BBC AMERICA, SundanceTV and WE tv.
Sundance Deals: What's Sold So Far, From 'Tallulah' to 'Under The Shadow'
Sundance Film Festival
"The Fundamentals of Caring" Sells to Netflix Paul Rudd and Craig Roberts struggle with looking after one another in Rob Burnett's comedy, but Netflix was more than happy to look after the SVOD rights for nearly $7 million.
"Tallulah" Sells to Netflix Netflix scooped exclusive SVOD rights to Sian Heder's "Tallulah" to the tune of $5 million, which follows Ellen Page as a nanny gone rogue. An unnamed theatrical partner will release the film in the latter part of 2016.
"Complete Unknown" Sells to Amazon Rachel Weisz and Michael Shannon seduced Amazon into purchasing U.S. rights to this thriller, in which Weisz plays a mysterious dinner party guest who Shannon swears he's met before. And he may be right. Amazon will seek a theatrical distributor for later in the year.
"Love and Friendship" Sells to Amazon/Roadside Whit Stillman's reteaming of Chloe Sevigny and Kate Beckinsale goes from the after-hours life of "The Last Days of Disco" to the sidewalks of Jane Austen in "Love and Friendship" -- which now belongs to Amazon for streaming and Roadside Attractions for theatrical. The partnership comes after the companies worked together on Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq."
"Under the Shadow" Sells to Netflix The Iranian horror film "Under The Shadow" -- which has been compared to "The Babadook" -- had its SVOD rights go to Netflix.
"A Birth of a Nation" Sells to Fox Searchlight Fox Searchlight closed a record-breaking deal to acquire worldwide rights to Nate Parker’s “Birth of a Nation” for $17.5 million, which is believed to be the most paid for any film in Sundance history.
"Equity" Sells to Sony Classics Sony Pictures Classics acquired worldwide rights to “Equity,” a female-driven Wall Street tale starring Anna Gunn, James Purefoy, Sarah Megan Thomas and Alysia Reiner.
"Indignation" Sells to Summit Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment acquired North American rights to James Schamus‘ directorial debut “Indignation” for $2.5 million. The coming-of-age drama is based on the novel by Philip Roth about the son of a kosher butcher who leaves his sheltered family life in New Jersey to attend college in Ohio, where he clashes with the dean.
"Morris from America" Sells to A24 A24 acquired domestic rights to Chad Hartigan’s “Morris From America,” which stars Craig Robinson and newcomer Markees Christmas. The nearly seven-figure deal will fall under A24’s pact with DirecTV, which recently released the company’s Garrett Hedlund-Oscar Isaac thriller “Mojave.”
"Manchester by the Sea" Sells to Amazon Amazon has closed a $10 million deal for domestic rights to Kenneth Lonergan’s family drama “Manchester by the Sea,” which garnered rave reviews following its world premiere at the Eccles on Jan. 23.
"Eat That Question" Sells to Sony Classics Sony Pictures Classics acquired worldwide rights to the documentary “Eat That Question — Frank Zappa In His Own Words,” about the legendary composer-musician. The film is told entirely through archival footage assembled from the performer’s 30-year career in entertainment, including rare TV interviews and performances from around the world.
"The Fits" Sells to Oscilloscope Laboratories Oscilloscope Laboratories acquired U.S. rights to Anna Rose Holmer’s debut feature “The Fits” from Mongrel International, just days before the film’s Sundance premiere. Oscilloscope will release the film theatrically this summer, when it will first open New York’s new Metrograph theater.
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Studios, indie players and deep-pocketed streaming companies compete for 2016’s best films. Here’s who won
Sundance Film Festival
