Confirmed: Sundance Grand Jury Winner ‘Push’ Acquired by Lionsgate, Oprah

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on February 2, 2009

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Earlier this evening we reported that Lee Daniels’ drama Push: Based on a novel by Sapphire won both the Dramatic Grand Jury and Audience Award Prizes for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. While I was writing up the awards alert, I was sent over a scoop by a very reliable source that said that Lionsgate is very close to acquiring the U.S. distribution rights to the film. The source said that the deal may not be done yet, but that Lionsgate is working hard to get it done.

This would make for Lionsgate’s second acquisition of the festival. Earlier in the week they acquired James C. Strouse’s The Winning Season, starring Sam Rockwell. We are currently working to confirm this scoop, but don’t be surprised if it shows up in the trades before we are able to do so.

Update: Today the folks at Variety confirmed my scoop. In their report (which of course doesn’t credit me for breaking the news), Lionsgate has acquired the film and big names Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry will help in its promotion. Which is great news, seeing as it is a great film.


For movie reviews from Sundance 2009, visit our Sundance Review Index

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  • Man, the make up crew did a crazy bang up job on making Dakota Fanning look like that. And she has super powers, right? Thanks Lionsgate!
  • Josh
    I've heard things here and there, but do you know of any master list of what films have been picked up for distribution?

    Also, I'm very excited to see this.
  • Hey Josh, I don't (laziness). But the lovely Karina over at Spout does have one in the works:

    http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/12/sundance-deals-2...
  • blackmanjew
    wait. is this that same awful looking movie with dakota fanning and that black guy??? it looks like a knock off of Wanted... and nobody wants to see that
  • Only a teen by the alias of "blackmanjew" would be that incapable of noticing humor.
  • Silencio
    Sundance 09 deals so far:

    You Won’t Miss Me :Visit Films
    Tyson:Sony Classics
    Black Dynamite: Sony
    Adam: Fox Searchlight
    The Winning Season: Lionsgate
    An Education: Sony Classics
    Amreeka: Entertainment One
    Rudo y Cursi: Sony Classics
    Burma VJ :HBO
    William Kunstler: POV (PBS)
    El General: P.O.V. (PBS)
    In the Loop:IFC Films
    Spread:Anchor Bay
    Moon: Sony Classics
    Art & Copy: Arthouse Films
    Cold Souls:E1 Films(canada)
    Brooklyn’s Finest: Senator Distribution
    Kimjongilia:Visit Films
    The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle:Visit Films
    Humpday: Magnolia
    Dead Snow:IFC Films


    I would love to see Push and Mystery Team to get good distribution. The Missing Person deserves to get picked up too.
  • Never read the novel, but the article about Sapphire and her book sounds intriguing. Novels with themes such as abuse, incest, rape, murder - themes that are all too common and real - are apparently getting as much treatment as the fantasy works of JR Tolkien and Rowling, i.e. Push and the Lovely Bones. Will people pay to see movies about the same sad things that are broadcast on FOX and MSNBC every night?
  • Tyler Perry is going to take this idea and make a film about it with him as the cross-dressing lead.
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