Despite the lion’s share of films available for acquisition at the Sundance Film Festival, the fat wallets have remained tight as purchases have been scarce going into the event’s fourth day.
“It’s early on,” Patrick Gunn, an Artisan exec, told The Hollywood Reporter. “But on the other hand, I don’t remember the festival going into Sunday without the announcements of an acquisition.”
Word is that most of the big wigs aren’t content with the mediocre offerings of films that had much hype pumping them up before the start of the festival. Films such as “Donnie Darko,” “Green Dragon” and “Double Whammy” had strong potential, but none were picked up over the weekend.
“I think there are solid films in terms of craftsmanship but nothing as far as commerciality,” Universal exec Dennis O’Connor said.
There were a few business deals that went down, however. Sony Pictures Classics acquired North American, Australian and New Zealand rights to Mark and Michael Polish’s “Jackpot.” It’s the second deal between both parties.
“Jackpot,” the second part of a trilogy begun with “Twin Falls Idaho,” stars Daryl Hannah, Jon Gries, Anthony Edwards and Garrett Morris. SPC released the Polish brothers’ directorial debut, “Twin Falls Idaho,” which premiered at Sundance two years ago.
Also, Manhattan Pictures Int. has optioned the action comedy “Marcus Timberwolf” and signed Danny Aiello and Lori Singer to star. The film is budgeted at $5 million to $10 million, and no director has been attached to the project yet.
