IFC Films and Sundance Selects, the independent film distributors owned by AMC Networks, have promoted Arianna Bocco to executive vice president of acqusitions and production.
Bocco has been in charge of acquisitions for IFC, Sundance and IFC Midnight since 2006, snagging the rights to films such as “The Trip” series from Michael Winterbottom, Cannes Grand Jury Prize winner “Gomorrah” and Elyse Steinberg’s “Weiner,” a documentary about the sexting congressman that won the 2016 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize.
In all, IFC/Sundance has acquired more than 400 films in her tenure.
“Arianna is one of the most talented and experienced executives in independent film,” Jonathan Sehring and Lisa Schwartz, co-presidents of IFC Films and Sundance Selects, said in a statement. “Her superb creative instincts and great eye for unique material have led to a proud history of IFC Films distributing some of the most celebrated and acclaimed independent films of all time.”
Prior to joining IFC/Sundance, Bocco headed the independent feature packaging division of the Gersh Agency in New York City, and she previously worked as senior vice president of acquisitions at Miramax Films, where she acquired Zach Braff‘s “Garden State,” among others.
Bocco is currently a board member of BAFTA New York and was recently invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
11 Films That Could Ignite Independent Box Office (Photos)
The Wolfpack Crystal Moselle’s documentary Grand Jury Prize winner at Sundance is about the seven Angulo children, who were home-schooled by their parents and confined to their New York apartment. Everything changes when one of the brothers escapes. Magnolia Pictures opens it Friday.
Magnolia Pictures
Eden This French import follows DJ Paul, who pioneers the electronic dance music genre “French Touch” and, with his band Cheers, crosses party paths with Daft Punk. It debuts on June 19 via Broad Green Pictures.
Broad Green Pictures
Infinitely Polar Bear Featuring Mark Ruffalo as a manic depressive dad trying to win back his wife (Zoe Saldana) by caring for his two precocious daughters, this first feature from writer-director Maya Forbes is prickly but charming. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” writer-director J.J. Abrams is an executive producer. Sony Classics opens it on June 19.
Sony Classics
The Overnight The full-frontal hijinks of Jason Schwartzman and Adam Scott have brought a degree of notoriety to writer-director Patrick Brice’s sex comedy “The Overnight.” But reviews out of Sundance make clear the lighthearted romp has more than that going for it. Taylor Schilling (“Orange is the New Black”) co-stars and Mark and Jay Duplass are executive producers. It opens on June 19 via The Orchard.
The Orchard
The Tribe This Ukrainian drama is set in a boarding school for deaf children that is rife with crime. Director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy’s tale, in Ukrainian sign language with no subtitles, follows a new arrival who crosses the line when he falls for a girl he’s assigned to pimp. Drafthouse rolls it out on June 17.
Drafthouse
Big Game Featuring Samuel L. Jackson as the President of the United States, the film depicts the brash actor stranded in the wilds of Finland when terrorists shoot down Air Force One. His hopes for survival rest with a 13-year-old boy (Ommi Tommila). Felicity Huffman and Jim Broadbent co-star in the thriller directed by Jelmari Helander and set for a June 26 release by EuropaCorp.
EuropaCorp
Cartel Land Matthew Heineman’s documentary follows two vigilante groups — Autodefensas and Arizona Border Recon — that take on the Mexican drug cartels along the border. Heineman won top documentary director honors at Sundance for this unsettling look at the contemporary wild West, which was also honored for cinematography. Orchard rolls it out on July 3.
The Orchard
Do I Sound Gay? Writer-director David Thorpe’s smart and funny documentary takes a look at the speech patterns and stylings that make a “gay voice.” Margaret Cho, Tim Gunn and George Takei weigh in, too. It opens July 10 via IFC Films.
IFC Films
Tangerine The Caitlin Jenner story this ain't. The comedy-drama, another Sundance film, takes a look at the grittier transgender life of prostitute Sin-Dee Rella. Just out of prison, she and her trans friend Alexandra meet at Donut Time and chase down her cheating boyfriend and pimp Chester. Magnolia Pictures will debut it on July 10.
Magnolia Pictures
Amy The British documentary on the life and tragic death of torch singer and songwriter Amy Winehouse directed by Asif Kapadia drew raves at the Cannes Film Festival. It features new footage and tracks recorded by Winehouse in the months before her death and debuts July 10 via A24.
A24
War Room Alex Kendrick directs this faith-based drama about a Christian family facing marital issues. Karen Abercrombie stars as a wise older woman fighting to save the family. It opens via TriStar on August 28.
TriStar Pictures
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From Samuel L. Jackson as a U.S. President stranded in a Finnish forest in ”Big Game“ to the hell-bent transsexual prostitutes of ”Tangerine,“ larger-than-life characters abound
Magnolia Pictures
