The film, directed by award-winning journalist Matt Tyrnauer, premiered in the U.S. documentary competition during the festival. Tyrnauer is known for documentaries about designer Valentino Garavani and Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schrager.
“The Sundance reception for ‘Where’s My Roy Cohn?’ has been overwhelming, affirming in the extreme. As a filmmaker I have always had the greatest admiration for Sony Pictures Classics, and their extraordinary taste and curatorial eye,” Tyrnauer said in a statement. “They have been behind many of the films I admire most. I can’t think of a better company to bring this film and its message to theatrical audiences across the nation and beyond.”
The rights include North America, The Middle East, Scandinavia, India, South Africa, Benelux, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Latin America, and on worldwide airlines.
The film will get a theatrical release in the U.S.
In “Where’s My Roy Cohn?,” Tyrnauer looks to unearth the origins of the right wing’s ascent, revealing how New York lawyer and power broker Cohn shaped our current political world.
The film traces Roy Cohn’s rise to national prominence, first as prosecutor at the espionage trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenbergs which ended in their execution, then as handmaiden and chief counsel to Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who alleged that Soviet spies and Communist sympathizers had infiltrated the U.S. government. Cohn worked as a New York power broker, mafia consigliere, white-collar criminal, and, beginning in the 1970s, the mentor of Donald Trump.
Altimeter Films produced the film in association with Concordia Studio and Wavelength Productions. Producers include Tyrnauer, Corey Reeser p.g.a, Marie Brenner, Joyce Deep, and Andrea Lewis. Jenifer Westphal and Joe Plummer served as executive producers.
Sony Pictures Classics negotiated the deal with Endeavor Content and Donaldson & Callif on behalf of the filmmakers. Tyrnauer, Reeser, and Altimeter films are represented by WME.