Joan Rivers Documentary Picked Up by IFC Films

After a number of bidders showed interest at the Sundance documentary competition, including Anchor Bay, Phase 4, and Roadside Attractions, IFC Films has won the North American rights to Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg's "Joan Rivers-A Piece of Work."

According to Variety, the deal was in the mid-six-figures. The further examination of the American actress and comedian drew interest and was highly talked about at Sundance. It also took home the festivals editing award for work done by Penelope Falk. The producers of the documentary are Stern, Sundberg, and Seth Keal.

Stern and Sundberg, Emmy-nominated filmakers, attended Sundance in 2006 for "The Trials of Darryl Hunt," and in 2007 for their Darfur documentary "The Devil Came on Horseback."
The negotiation for IFC Film's was done by Arianna Bocco .

"It was an incredible and joyous experience, and I'm proud to be a part of something so honest and amazingly produced," Rivers said in a statement after the deal closed. "Now, show me the money!"
IFC Films is looking for a summer release date.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Joan Rivers "made the rounds" in New York during the ‘50s, appearing in a few off-off Broadway plays (including one where she played a lesbian opposite an equally unknown Barbra Streisand). A 1965 booking on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" led to her hosting one of the first syndicated talk shows on daytime TV, "That Show with Joan Rivers" in 1968. In 1983 Joan became the permanent guest host on "The Tonight Show." Later, she headlined in Las Vegas, sold out Carnegie Hall, produced a Grammy nominated comedy album, and wrote two best-selling books.

In 1972 Rivers portrayed Jill Fairchild in FUN CITY and in 1986 Rivers played Kate in BROADWAY BOUND. In 1994 she wrote and starred on Broadway in Sally Marr AND HER ESCORTS, for which she received a Best Actress Tony nomination.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.