As IFTN previously reported, ‘Sing Street’, the latest from ‘Once’ director-writer John Carney, was acquired for
distribution in the US via a deal between sales company WME and Weinstein. It has since been confirmed that FilmNation, the firm responsible for international sales of the feature, has come close to selling out the feature after a very successful market at Cannes.
Production for ‘Sing Street’ is set to commence in Dublin this summer. The film is set in the 1970s and tells the story of a teenage boy who has a challenging family and decides to set up a band. He eventually runs off to London with his aspiring model girlfriend. U2’s Bono and The Edge have been attached to the production and are said to be involved with the music as well as in other aspects of the production.
The film pre-sold to StudioCanal, Germany, at Berlinale. FilmNation, which is headed by CEO Glen Basner, has now sold rights to the UK through Lionsgate UK, to Australia and New Zealand through Roadshow Films, to France through TFI, to Japan through Gaga, to Italy through BIM, to Spain through Vertigo and to Scandinavia through Svensk.
Deals have also been made with Cana (Elevation Pictures), Taiwan (Filmware International), Hong Kong (Golden Scene), Singapore (Shaw Renters), Switzerland (Elite Film), Turkey (Aqua Group), Greece and Cyprus (Spentzos Film/Seven Films), and Israel (LEV Cinemas). Rights were also granted for South Korea (Bloomage), Indonesia (PT Amero Mitra), South Africa (Ster Kinekor), Iceland (Sam Films) and pan-Asian TV (HBO Pacific Partners).
Glen Basner has stated, “John Carney’s unique and personal way of storytelling had us immediately excited about his new film. It comes as no surprise to us that distributors throughout the world responded to it so positively. ‘Sing Street’ isn’t a feel-good movie — it’s a feel-great movie.”
Carney is co-producing through his company Distressed Films along with Anthony Bregman of Likely Story, Kevin Frakes from PalmStar, and Raj Brinder Singh for Merced Media Partners in the US and Paul Trijbits and Christian Grass of FilmWave in the UK.
The deals follow the success of Carney’s ‘Once’, the Academy Award-winning film which was later adapted into a Tony award-winning musical. His next feature is the highly-anticipated ‘Begin Again’ (originally named ‘Can a Song Can Save Your Life’), which will be released in Irish cinemas this 11th July. Like ‘Sing Street’, the film is also centred on music and it was also acquired by Weinstein for US distribution in a major deal.
‘Begin Again’ was recently acquired for a Chinese release and it will compete in the upcoming Shanghai International Film Festival (June 14-22) for the Golden Goblet Award. A brand new trailer for the film has also been released, which can be viewed below.