Among the early deals at this year's Sundance Film Fest, which celebrates its 25th anniversary, HBO acquired the U.S. TV rights to Anders Ostergaard's documentary “Burma VJ” from Submarine Entertainment.
The enterprising Sony Pictures Classics sealed deals for “Rudo y Cursi” and James Toback's documenatry “Tyson,” which world-premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Fest.
The new kid on the block: Consolidated Pictures Group, a new company formed by “Bottle Shock” dircetor Randall Miller, producer Jody Savin and Leonidas Films' Timothy Cavanaugh and James Mancuso. With equity in place, the company plans to produce and acquire films, with Sundance the first hunting ground.
Miller and Savin found success in self-distributing “Bottle Shock,” which grossed the estimable $4.5 million domestically after its premiere at the 2008 Sundance Film Fest. “The distribution model for independent films is broken,” said Miller, “and my partners and I determined to do for others what we did for 'Bottle Shock.' ”
