In an important start-of-Sundance acquisitions announcement, HBO said it had picked up television rights to the acclaimed buzz doc BURMA VJ, winner of jury prizes at IDFA and CPH:DOX. But interestingly, HBO's deal is for a 2010 premiere, allowing BURMA VJ to proceed with a planned May theatrical run at the Film Forum in Manhattan.
Further, today's press release states that Submarine's Josh Braun, the sales rep for the film, "will be meeting with theatrical and DVD distributors during Sundance to find the right partners to handle the theatrical release and DVD rights following the film's launch at Film Forum."
Last year, HBO made headlines with another big, early acquisition - Marina Zenovich's ROMAN POLANSKI: WANTED AND DESIRED - that insisted on an HBO premiere before the film could officially screen in theaters. While each film deal is different - it's worth noting the difference between today's announcement and that of one year ago - particularly as everyone watches Sundance transactions to determine the influence of the current economic crisis.
In fairly amazing piece of myth-making written for Variety one year ago, HBO topper Shiela Nevins is described as "the undisputed queen of the castle, a tastemaker who comes to fests like Sundance not to ogle, not to acquire, but to inspire envy." (emphasis mine)
For Nevins, no matter how good the word on the street is about a doc or a filmmaker, she is unequivocal in the certainty of her taste and about HBO's top-dog status: "I don't chase buzz; buzz has to chase me. Buzz often explodes in your face. You can create buzz with a good poster."
Nevins plays it cool because HBO has long reigned at the top of the heap.
"Three things mean a lot to people: getting nominated for an Academy Award, getting into Sundance and getting on HBO," Nevins said."
Damn, surely Ms. Nevins is BFFs with Anna Wintour?
Posted by: chris | January 16, 2009 at 10:13 AM
im so happy to the news
Posted by: Busby SEO Test | January 17, 2009 at 06:27 AM