A24 has picked up North American distribution rights to the Jamie Bell-led drama “Skin,” in conjunction with DirecTV. The film had its world premiere during the Toronto Film Festival over the weekend.
Under the deal, A24 will release the film in 2019.
Directed by Israeli filmmaker Guy Nattiv, “Skin” is inspired by the true life story of Bryon Widner, a young man raised by skinheads who is transformed by his relationship with a single mother of three children and a compassionate African American activist.
Bryon decides to turn his back on violence and hatred and to risk everything for a new life of tolerance, empathy, and love.
Widner, whose story also inspired the 2011 MSNBC documentary “Erasing Hate” was one of the FBI’s most wanted white supremacists. He endured death threats and harassment from his old gang while attempting to turn his life around.
With the help of the FBI and Southern Poverty Law Center, he underwent 25 brutal tattoo removal surgeries in exchange for decoding the tattoos covering his body, which culminates in the arrest and conviction of his former gang.
Reviews for the film have been strong, and Bell has gotten an awards attention for his lead performance. “Skin” also stars Vera Farmiga, Danielle Macdonald, Mike Colter and Bill Camp.
Producers are Nattiv, Oren Moverman, Trudie Styler, Celine Rattray, Jaime Ray Newman, Dillon D. Jordan.
ICM Partners negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. News of the acquisition was first reported by Variety.
12 Hottest Toronto Movies for Sale, From 'Wild Rose' to 'Vox Lux' (Photos)
Natalie Portman's "Vox Lux," Robert Pattinson's "High Life" and Kristen Stewart's "Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy" are just a few hot sales titles heading to the Toronto International Film Festival this week.
"Wild Rose" [UTA]
"Wild Rose" was the first title numerous industry players called their most anticipated movie of the festival. It follows a young musician from Glasgow who wants to become a star in Nashville. Julie Walters and Jessie Buckley star in the Tom Harper-directed film.
TIFF
"Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" [Voltage]
Zac Efron stars as one of America's most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy, alongside Lily Collins, Jim Parsons and Kaya Scodelario. While it's not screening in competition, one major buyer told TheWrap, producers are screening the film outside the festival for potential suitors.
Getty Images; FBI
"High Life" [CAA]
Robert Pattinson has been quietly living in a post-“Twilight” renaissance for a few years now, with breakout performances in “Good Time” and “The Lost City of Z.” Which makes a film like Claire Denis' “High Life” all the more curious given how under-the-radar it’s been. Prospective buyers are intrigued by the cast (led by Pattinson) and the story: A group of criminals sent to space under dubious circumstances.
BFI Film Fund
"The Wedding Guest" [Endeavor Content/UTA]
Following his Oscar-nominated performance in "Lion," Dev Patel is back in "The Wedding Guest," which follows a man on a journey through India and Pakistan. Michael Winterbottom wrote and directed.
Revolution Films
"American Woman" [Endeavor Content]
Sienna Miller plays a woman who raises her young grandson after her daughter goes missing. With Christina Hendricks and Aaron Paul also is the cast, "American Woman" is sure to attract buyers.
Scott Free Productions
"Her Smell" [Endeavor Content]
Elisabeth Moss shines as Becky Something, a frontwoman for a '90s rock band, in a movie that also stars Amber Heard, Cara Delevingne, Virginia Madsen, Dan Stevens and Ashley Benson. Where are our "Handmaid's Tale" fans at?
Bow and Arrow Entertainment
"Vox Lux" [Endeavor Content]
In 2016, TheWrap exclusively reported that Brady Corbet's follow-up to his award-winning directorial debut, “The Childhood of a Leader," would be "Vox Lux." Described as “a 21st century story of Celeste, a pop star who comes to success as a result of unusual circumstances," the film stars Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Willem Dafoe and Jennifer Ehle. It already premiered at the Venice Film Festival to stellar reviews -- currently, it is rated 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Venice Film Festival
"The Weekend" [UTA]
"Everything Everything" director Stella Meghie returns to TIFF with this blissful rom-com that stars "SNL" alum Sasheer Zamata. It follows a comedian who gets romantically entangled with three other people during a weekend getaway.
Homegrown Pictures
"A Million Little Pieces" [CAA]
In Sam Taylor-Johnson's first movie since "Fifty Shades of Grey," her husband Aaron Johnson stars alongside Charlie Hunnam and Billy Bob Thornton in an adaptation of James Frey's book that was originally marketed as a "memoir" of addiction but turned out to be heavily fictionalized.
"The Death & Life of John F. Donovan" [CAA]
This film is the long-awaited English-language debut by international film festival l'enfant terrible Xavier Dolan, as well as an anticipated leading man debut by "Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington. The A-list cast also includes Natalie Portman, Susan Sarandon, Kathy Bates, Thandie Newton, Jacob Tremblay and Ben Schnetzer.
Warp Films
"Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy" [CAA]
If you think Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern isn't the dream casting of the century, what actually is wrong with you? Justin Kelly directs the film based on the true story of a middle-aged woman who wrote novels under the guise of a teenage boy named JT LeRoy -- while her sister-in-law (Stewart) made public appearances as the author.
LBI Entertainment
"American Dharma" [Endeavor Content]
"Fog of War" and "Gates of Heaven" director Errol Morris is back with "American Dharma," which is a documentary portraying controversial Breitbart editor and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
TIFF
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Toronto film market has awards bait, a Steve Bannon doc and lots of Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman's "Vox Lux," Robert Pattinson's "High Life" and Kristen Stewart's "Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy" are just a few hot sales titles heading to the Toronto International Film Festival this week.
TIFF
