What will the buyers be snapping up at the fall festivals? With this year’s Toronto International Film Festival already touting a high number of premieres for movies that originally bowed at Cannes or Sundance, there’s fewer world premiere sales titles that aren’t already with distributors than we’re used to. Still, the festival (with its very first market in place), plus Telluride, Venice, and New York are loaded with options, and there’s always the potential for another historic breakout like last year’s “Obsession.”
We’ll be tracking all the sales as they come in here, so check back frequently.
Films Acquired Before the Festivals
“Babies”
Distributor: Roadside Attractions and Vertical
Director: Lauren Miller Rogen
Festival: TIFF Gala Presentation
Buzz: Lauren Miller Rogen directs her husband Seth Rogen alongside Anna Kendrick and Kate Berlant in this comedy about parenthood and prospective parenthood. It follows a childless couple who begin debating the merits of having kids when their divorced friend and her child move in with them. The cast is stacked, including Issa Rae, Dan Stevens, Zach Cherry, Ed Helms, Ashley Park, Sharon Stone, and David Strathairn in supporting parts.
“Babies” is described as heartfelt and poignant in what is shaping up to be a strong year for Seth Rogen. The movie launched sales at TIFF nearly a year to the date prior to its Roy Thomson Hall premiere. The distributors are planning for a release in early 2027.
“Elsinore”
Distributor: Focus Features
Director: Simon Stone
Festival: Telluride and TIFF
Buzz: Andrew Scott is said to be fantastic in this performance based on the true story of “Chariots of Fire” and “Gandhi” star and thespian Ian Charleson, who died of AIDS at the age of 40 but managed to raise awareness for the epidemic after his death. Focus has already dated the film for late November, the same time slot it gave “Hamnet” last year.
“Ink”
Distributor: Netflix
Director: Danny Boyle
Festival: Venice Competition
Buzz: The opening night film for this year’s Biennale, “Ink” is the story of the birth of The Sun tabloid in the ’60s and the collaboration between editor Larry Lamb (Jack O’Connell) and Rupert Murdoch (Guy Pearce) that made it the notorious publication it is today. Netflix didn’t acquire worldwide rights to the film, so it could easily be something it sees as both commercial and an awards play.
Continue Reading: Fall Festival Movies Sold So Far: ‘Babies,’ ‘Ink,’ and ‘Elsinore’ Lead Early Deals From Venice and TIFF
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