Lionsgate has won worldwide distribution rights to Sundance’s arguable crown jewel, “Blindspotting.”
From writers and stars Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, and director Carlos Lopez Estrada, the Oakland-set film explores multiple themes of race, class and identity. It was the festival’s opening film in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.
Snoot Entertainment’s Jess Calder and Keith Calder produced alongside Diggs and Casal.
“We’re excited to be teaming again with Keith and Jess and to be reunited with Daveed who recently starred in our worldwide box office hit ‘Wonder,’” Lionsgate President of Acquisitions & Co-Productions Jason Constantine said in a statement.
“We took the approach on this film that convention would not hinder the telling of an authentic Oakland story, and we know from experience that our new partners are not afraid to push boundaries and try something new. We could not be more excited,” Casal added.
The deal was negotiated by Constantine, Eda Kowan, John Biondo and Elizabeth Hopkins for Lionsgate. Endeavor Content and Erik Hyman of Loeb and Loeb repped the filmmakers.
Read the official synopsis:
“Blindspotting” tells the story of Collin (Diggs) who needs to make it through his last three days of probation for a chance at a new start, but his fast-talking childhood bestie, Miles (Casal), is a magnet for trouble. When Collin’s final countdown is interrupted by a life-changing missed curfew, their friendship is forced out of its comfortable buddy-comedy existence and onto a spiraling collision course.