Netflix has acquired the rights to “Audrie & Daisy” at Sundance Film Festival, the streaming service announced Wednesday.
The documentary is directed by filmmakers Bonni Cohen and John Shenk and is about the effects of cyberbullying on two different girls in respective small towns. Harassed online and taunted in school, they both are driven to attempt suicide after they are assaulted by boys they considered their friends.
Now a Netflix Original, “Audrie & Daisy” went for a low-seven figures and is qualifying for an awards run, an individual with knowledge of the deal told TheWrap. A theatrical release is being planned.
“From the early days of production on Audrie & Daisy, we dreamed of distribution for the film that could reach millions of teenagers and their families. With Netflix, our dream has come true. We are excited to work with a company that has helped the best documentaries reach the widest possible audience,” said Cohen and Shenk.
The film also examines the teen assault epidemic and the role of social media in the epidemic alongside a group of girls and their families wishing to speak out about the topic.
“This is an important film for boys, girls and their families as a tool to address the complex terrain that teenagers around the world must navigate as they come of age,” said Lisa Nishimura, Netflix Vice President of Original Documentary Programming. “We are honored to be able to provide a global platform for kids and adults alike to engage with this courageous film and to support a vital conversation.”
UTA Independent Film Group represented Impact Partners and the filmmakers in the Netflix acquisition of “Audrie & Daisy.”
Netflix has been extremely busy at Sundance, snatching up rights to hot titles like “The Fundamentals of Caring” for $7 million, and “Tallulah” for $5 million.
Amazon Studios, alongside Netflix, has also invaded Sundance 2016, spending big from deep pockets and forcing indie veterans to find a way to either work alongside them — or do battle for the festival’s hottest titles.