As Sundance builds up to its award-filled closing weekend (didn’t that go fast?) two of its most interesting features have been snapped up by distributors.
Celebrated as one of the best of the festival, Hesher was picked up for a seven figure sum by Newmarket Films.
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the titular toking Hesher, the film follows his attempts to help a 13-year-old come to terms with his mother’s death.
The film’s producer and co-star, the lovely Natalie Portman, said:
“ Hesher was my first feature I produced, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. [Director] Spencer had a real vision, and Joseph’s performance will truly blow people away.
"It is an incredibly special film and I am thrilled to have been a part of the filmmaking process.”
Meanwhile, Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are Alright (above) was bought by Focus Features.
Starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska (you'll see her soon in Alice in Wonderland ) and Josh Hutcherson, it’s the story of two adopted teens who seek out their birth father (Mark Ruffalo) and bring him home to meet the rest of the family.
In related news, Joel Schumacher’s Twelve , starring Chace Crawford, also got picked up by Hannover House.
Will you be checking any of these out?