Distrib takes Sachs' New York-set sixth feature, one of the most acclaimed films of this year's Sundance Film Festival

 

MAGNOLIA PICTURES TAKES U.S. RIGHTS TO IRA SACHS' ‘LITTLE MEN’ STARRING GREG KINNEAR, JENNIFER EHLE, PAULINA GARCIA, AND SUNDANCE BREAKTHROUGHS THEO TAPLITZ AND MICHAEL BARBIERI

 Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired U.S. rights to Ira Sachs' LITTLE MEN, to be released later this year theatrically. Directed by Sachs, the film stars Academy Award Nominee Greg Kinnear (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, AS GOOD AS IT GETS), Jennifer Ehle (ZERO DARK THIRTY, 50 SHADES OF GREY), Paulina Garcia (Netflix's NARCOS, GLORIA), and introduces two young stars, Theo Taplitz and Michael Barbieri. LITTLE MEN, Sachs’ sixth feature, was praised by audiences and critics when it premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and makes its international premiere this weekend at the Berlin International Film Festival. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter  called the film "beautiful," saying that it "sneaks up and slays you with its emotional authenticity."

LITTLE MEN simultaneously follows the friendship formed between 13-year-olds Jake (Taplitz) and Tony (Barbieri), and an increasingly tense dispute between their parents (Kinnear, Ehle, Garcia) - all set against a backdrop of the ever-changing socioeconomic situation in modern New York. The film is the third collaboration between Sachs and co-writer Mauricio Zacharias, following the critically acclaimed art-house hits LOVE IS STRANGE and KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, each recipients of multiple Independent Spirit Award and Gotham nominations. 
 
“LITTLE MEN is a true gem of a film,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Ira Sachs has consistently been making beautiful, even-handed stories with rich, real-life characters and we’re really looking forward to working together on this one.”

 
“For many years, I’ve wanted to find the right film to work on with Eamonn,” said Sachs. “The response to LITTLE MEN from the whole team at Magnolia was passionate and smart, the two most important qualities of independent distribution.”

Directed by Ira Sachs, and written by Sachs and Mauricio Zacharias,  LITTLE MEN was produced by Lucas Joaquin, Ira Sachs, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, L.A. Teodosio, and Jim Landé, and executive produced by Tom Dolby, Dom Genest, Matthew Helderman, Daniella Kahane, Lars Knudsen, David Kyle, Sophie Mas, Melissa Pinsly, Blythe Robertson, Lourenço Sant'Anna, Hugh Schulze, Luke Taylor, Rodrigo Teixeira, Jay Van Hoy, Franklin Zitter; presented by Race Point Films, Faliro House, Buffalo 8, and Charlie Guidance Productions, in association with Parts & Labor, Raptor Films, Water’s End Productions, and RT Features. 

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley and Magnolia VP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, with  WME Global and Paul Brennan of Bruns, Brennan & Berry on behalf of the filmmakers.