Tribeca Film, the distribution label of Tribeca Enterprises, and Focus World, the alternative distribution initiative owned and operated by Focus Features, have teamed to acquire U.S. rights to Greetings from Tim Buckley, a captivating exploration of two generations of musicians – Tim and Jeff Buckley. The film spotlights a powerhouse lead performance by Penn Badgley as Jeff Buckley.
The movie's world premiere at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival garner
Ed Strong praise: "
Penn Badgley [gives] a vibrant, break-out performance… Dan Algrant's lyrical recreation of a father-son relationship seen over time, through memory and music, has a sense of urgent originality" (The Hollywood Reporter); "[ Badgley's] a great singer-he does an eerily perfect impersonation ... but what draws you to him in this movie is his private, almost invisible woe." (Entertainment Weekly)
The film is directed by Dan Algrant (People I Know), co-written by Emma Sheanshang, David Brendel, and Algrant, and stars Mr. Badgley (Margin Call, Gossip Girl), Imogen Poots (A Late Quartet), and screen newcomer
Ben Rosenfield. The producers are
John N. Hart,
Patrick Milling Smith,
Frederick Zollo, and
Amy Nauiokas. The executive producers include
Brian Carmody, Jill Footlick, and Ben Limberg.
In 1991, a young musician named Jeff Buckley (played by Mr. Badgley) rehearses for his public singing debut at a Brooklyn tribute show for his father, the late folk singer Tim Buckley. Struggling with the legacy of a man he barely knew, Jeff finds solace in a relationship with an enigmatic young woman (Ms. Poots) working at the show. While they discover each other and New York City, the film also explores Tim's (Mr. Rosenfield) 1960s heyday, as he drives cross-country with a girlfriend and finds himself on the verge of stardom. Greetings from Tim Buckley is a poignant portrait of a father and son who were each among the most beloved singer/songwriters of their respective generations.
The deal was negotiated for Tribeca Film by Nick Savva, Director of Acquisitions; for Focus by Avy Eschenasy, Executive Vice President, Strategic Planning, Business Affairs and Acquisitions, and Kent Sanderson, Director, Alternative Content & Distribution; and for the filmmakers by CAA and Hengameh Panahi of Celluloid Dreams.
Tribeca Film and Focus World will release the film in 2013, encompassing a platform theatrical rollout as well as availability on demand in more than 40 million homes through a variety of video-on-demand offerings, as well as iTunes, Amazon Watch Instantly, VUDU, and Xbox.
"Greetings from Tim Buckley is a uniquely independent vision-a musical, a love story, and an examination of a father-son relationship that never was," said Geoff Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises. "With an especially affecting performance by
Penn Badgley, and directed by the very talented Dan Algrant, Buckley is an example of storytelling of the highest caliber and quality. We are especially excited to be partnering with Focus to release this film across all platforms."
"The partnership between Tribeca and Focus finds us a perfect home for Buckley," said Mr. Algrant. "No rules exist any more for films like this, where the audience will not only want to find it playing nearby in a theater, but also to pull it onto their own personal screen ASAP. I only advise them to have proper speakers so they can blast the concert sequence- or they'll be missing out."
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