Is A24 the New Indie Powerhouse Thanks to 'Moonlight' Oscar Triumph?

(A24)

The surprise Best Picture win for Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” on Sunday represents a victory for independent cinema; a triumph for queer stories broaching the mainstream; a needed rebuttal to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy that plagued the Academy for two years running; a hell of a surprise to cap off an otherwise predictable show.

For industry heads, it also signaled the arrival of the four-year-old New York-based indie distributor A24.

After all, this is the upstart distribution label popular among the art house crowd for quirky, eccentric features like Harmony Korine’s oddball teen caper “Spring Breakers” — a 2013 release that grossed $14.1 million and became the company’s first big hit.

Also Read: Oscars: Stars' Reactions to 'Moonlight' Best Picture Win Are The Best (Photos)

Last year, A24 scored several major box office successes. “The Witch,” Robert Eggers’ critically acclaimed period horror film, earning over $40 million worldwide on a shoestring budget of $3 million. “The Lobster,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ Cannes favorite, also made back its budget and netted an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.

But the success of “Moonlight,” the first film the company has financed itself, shocked industry watchers. After all, Jenkins hadn’t directed a film since 2008’s little-seen indie “Medicine for Melancholy,” and the cast was fronted by mostly unknowns, save for “House of Cards” star Mahershala Ali and music superstar Janelle Monae.

Despite a unique three-part structure a focus on the coming-of-age of a young gay African-American man, Jenkins’ $1.6 million film has grossed $22 million to date.

Thanks to its three Oscar victories, the movie expands to 1,500 screens this weekend — a major number for an independent film.

Also Read: 'Moonlight' Director Barry Jenkins and Cast Exclusive StudioWrap Portraits (Photos)

That’s quite an accomplishment for A24, which was founded in August 2012 by Daniel Katz, John Hodges and David Fenkel and has nurtured its cool-kid status by not playing by the books. (Executives for the company declined to comment for this story.)

The company first established itself with “Spring Breakers,” titillating audiences with a provocative ad campaign that toyed with Selena Gomez’s (at the time) good-girl reputation.

Most importantly, the film also resonated with critics, with James Franco’s supporting performance as a drug dealer getting buzz as a potential awards player. That never materialized, but the groundwork was set.

By sticking to unconventional fare geared towards a left-leaning market under-served by mainstream movies, A24 seemed poised to stand out — much in the same way Miramax did in the ’90s with “Pulp Fiction,” “The Crying Game” and “Trainspotting.”

Also Read: 'Moonlight' Writers Set Oscar Record With 5 Black Winners in Single Year

The films that have followed in its wake all fall within the same wheelhouse: often directed by indie auteurs, they’re pitched at a young, intelligent audience, and tell stories Hollywood would rather not tackle.

Standouts included Jonathan Glazer’s heady sci-fi thriller “Under the Skin,” starring a very naked Scarlett Johansson; “A Most Violent Year,” J.C. Chandor’s crime drama, which failed to net any Oscar nominations despite racking up a boatload of awards, including best film at the National Board of Review; and “Swiss Army Man,” the Daniel Radcliffe farting-corpse movie that many distributors were probably too timid to release.

The company’s biggest hit, Alex Garland’s stylish sci-fi thriller “Ex Machina,” earned $25.4 million on a $15 million budget and claimed last year’s visual effects Oscar over pricier studio rivals like “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Revenant,” “The Martian” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

A24’s output can’t be classified as Oscar bait, a term that plagues art-house distributors like Fox Searchlight and the Weinstein Company, and yet the company broke through in a very big way last year with wins for “Ex Machina,” the documentary feature “Amy” and “Room,” a dark drama that earned four nominations and one win for Best Actress Brie Larson.

Also Read: Daniel Radcliffe's Farting Corpse Movie 'Swiss Army Man' Sells to A24

The company shows no sign of deviating from its art-house niche with its 2017 slate.

First up in April Ben Wheatley’s British crime thriller “Free Fall, followed by the Debra Winger-Tracy Letts dark romantic comedy “The Lovers,” due in May, then the Joel Edgerton horror film “It Comes at Night” in June.

A24 has high hopes for John Cameron Mitchell’s sci-fi romantic comedy “How to Talk to Girls at Parties,” starring Nicole Kidman and due by year’s end. “The Lobster” helmer Yorgos Lanthimos also reteams with A24 for “The Killing of Sacred Dear,” centering on a sinister teenage boy who befriends a surgeon. And the company also acquired the Sundance film “A Ghost Story,” David Lowery’s eerie love story starring newly minted Oscar winner Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara.

Oscars: Inside the After Parties with Warren Beatty, Team 'Moonlight' and Viola Davis Clutching Gold (Photos)

Up until the final moment of the Oscars, we never thought that Warren Beatty would be the most in-demand person after the show.

Curiously still holding an envelope, a group including Fox Studios chief Jim Gianopulos surrounds Beatty at the Governors Ball upstairs from the show at the Dolby Ballroom.

Also Read: Oscars Best-Picture Flub Explained: Read PwC’s Full Statement
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Jordan Horowitz, the "La La Land" producer who graciously halted the acceptance speeches and showed the world that "Moonlight" had won, hugs the film's director Barry Jenkins at the Governors Ball.
Sharon Waxman
Both duplicates of Emma Stone's "Best Actress" envelope were opened on Sunday night. The "La La Land" star clutched her trophy tight inside the Dolby Ballroom...
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She carried her new gold proudly as one of "La La's" six winners...
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And let her brother Spencer carry it around.
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Casey Affleck gets his Best Actor Oscar engraved in the winners' circle at the Governors Ball. From the "Good Will Hunting" crew of Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Casey, the "Manchester By the Sea" lead is the only one to ever win an acting Oscar.

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"Moonlight" director and co-writer Barry Jenkins puts his ear to the gold. Is he trying to hear the ocean?
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Jenkins gets ready to go social with his Oscar.

He later tweeted "Jordan Horowitz. Wow. I'm slipping slowly into reflection, perspective. Much respect to that dude"

Also Read: Academy’s Accountants Take the Blame for Oscars Flub
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Leonardo DiCaprio (at the Gov Ball, where Hillhaven Whiskey and Piper-Heidsieck flowed) was mildly mixed up in the great Ocsar Flub of 2017, as he presented Emma Stone her Best Actress Oscar.

For now, he looks glad to be a veteran Oscar winner.
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No despair for Damien Chazelle (with girlfriend Olivia Hamilton). He won Best Director.
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Two thirds of the "Hidden Figures" lead trio: Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae.
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Monae gets a visit from Helen Lasichanh, Pharrell Williams' wife.
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Andrew Garfield tells Jackie Chan who the man is. (Hint: It's Chan.)
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Helen Lasichanh, Pharrell Williams, and Spencer. Around this same time, Janelle Monae was sitting with her "Hidden Figures" castmates. She was also in Best Picture winner "Moonlight".
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Over at Elton John's bash, the fundraiser-in-chief sang with St. Paul & The Broken Bones.
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EJAF regular Sharon Stone, already tall, stood on a chair for a better view of the performance.
Mikey Glazer
Immediately after the telecast's shock ending, Sir Elton got on the mic to address a stunned crowd and begin the auction portion of the evening.

"As much I wanted 'Moonlight' to win, we have to feel bad for 'La La Land'," Elton said. "So tough to give it back."

He then went on to honor the other nationally televised shock ending to the only television event of the year bigger than the Oscars: The Super Bowl. Elton called out Patriots owner Robert Kraft and congratulated him on their recent Super Bowl comeback win.
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Fraternizing with the enemy: Robert Kraft, a pregnant Ciara, John, and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The Patriots snatched a Super Bowl win from the Seahawks two years ago with an improbable goal line interception.
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Ruby Rose and Laverne Cox were two of the many famous faces at the Elton John fundraiser. The Party Report spied Tim Allen, Aisha Tyler, Eric McCormack, Tracee Ellis Ross, and one musician fresh from the Oscars stage...
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Sting.

When Sting rolled out of West Hollywood Park just before midnight, the singer, wife Trudie Styler, and their entourage piled in to one SUV. While Sting said "I'll take the front," and hopped in shotgun, three of his friends opted for the caboose.
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Three of Sting's pals left Elton John's party the same way kids get stuck in a carpool: in the "way back".

This could not have been the plan. Audi continued their long relationship with the EJAF as they shuttled celebrities and VIPs to a closed block of San Vicente Boulevard for arrivals at West Hollywood Park.
Mikey Glazer
Back inside, publicist Milan Blagojevic (right) helped shore up an Adriana Lima sandwich.
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The "Victoria's Secret" fashion show comes to West Hollywood: Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, and Josephine Skriver. The fashion community has been a long time supporter of the Elton John AIDS Foundation's mission.
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EJAF Chairman David Furnish, John, chef Gordon Ramsay (who designed the menu that chef Wayne Elias cooked over the last four days), and Ramsay's teenage daughter Holly.
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Big Sean and Karrueche Tran flank the host, who raised $7 million on Oscar night for action-oriented, evidence-based AIDS programs and policies to end the epidemic.
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Ricky Martin leans in to the head table...
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Where Smokey Robinson had a choice seat alongside Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grange, Sharon Stone, and Luke Hemsworth.

Bvlgari, Neuro Drinks, Chopin Vodka, and Audi sponsored the event.
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At Delilah in West Hollywood, Amazon celebrated their three wins. Kenneth Lonergan, power publicist Mara Buxbaum, and Casey Affleck.
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The marquee outside Delilah.
Mikey Glazer
Amazon SVP Jeff Blackburn, Worldwide Head of Motion Pictures Amazon Studios Jason Ropell, producer Kimberly Steward, producer Lauren Beck and producer Kevin Walsh surround Affleck at the bash where flip-flops were handed out to tired party-goers.
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Over at Vanity Fair's bash in Beverly Hills, Katie Couric, Michael Keaton, and John Molner may have been checking out GIFs of the on-stage chaos during the Best Picture snafu.
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Elizabeth Banks, Amy Adams, and Reese Witherspoon turned the cameras around the other way, shooting a two-camera selfie.
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Comedy hall of famers Sacha Baron Cohen and Larry David pose inside Graydon Carter's impossibly exclusive party.
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Personal cameras are treated like contraband inside VF, so here's a shot arriving on the carpet.
Known for having multiple social areas, the boys huddled up in one corner of the tent: Justin Theroux, Tom Ford, Orlando Bloom, and Lee Daniels.
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Caitlyn Jenner, James Corden, and iconic transgender model Andreja Pejic.
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Darren Le Gallo and Amy Adams would hit the dance floor. Adams' "Arrival" took home one Oscar, for sound editing.
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This would be useful for cleaning up after eating an In-N-Out Burger. Per usual, VF had the burger chain's truck pull up for the end of "industry lent" - where famished actors and dieting industry types can finally inhale food now that awards season is over.
"The Salesman" wins gold: This is the foreign language film whose director boycotted the Oscars in protest of the Republican administration's travel ban. In a smart behind-the-scenes campaign move, Charles Cohen (with wife Clo) sent screeners to all Academy members before Thanksgiving.
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Circus Magazine, a film magazine debuting later this year, threw a party at the Absolut Elyx house in the Hollywood Hills. It's been the scene of many late-night bashes this awards season.
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We're still not entirely sure how Warren Beatty is to blame, but former Obama chief speechwriter and "Pod Save America" host Jon Favreau immediately tweeted: "Also Hillary just won Wisconsin Michigan and Pennsylvania?".

It earned 16,000 likes.
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For more on the Oscars' freak ending and the industry's reaction, click here:

Also Read: Oscars: Stars’ Reactions to ‘Moonlight’ Best Picture Win Are The Best (Photos)
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Jordan Horowitz hugs Barry Jenkins, Beatty still has an envelope, and all the action from inside the Governors Ball, Elton John and Vanity Fair with The Party Report’s Mikey Glazer

Up until the final moment of the Oscars, we never thought that Warren Beatty would be the most in-demand person after the show.

Curiously still holding an envelope, a group including Fox Studios chief Jim Gianopulos surrounds Beatty at the Governors Ball upstairs from the show at the Dolby Ballroom.

Also Read: Oscars Best-Picture Flub Explained: Read PwC’s Full Statement

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