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NEW YORK, NY (November 1, 2009)- Sony Pictures Classics announces its acquisition of United States’ rights to Rodrigo García’s MOTHER AND CHILD from WME Global. The film debuted at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival as a Gala Presentation, where it was actively pursued by several US distributors.
MOTHER AND CHILD is the moving tale about the choices we make, the chances we miss, the opportunities we seize and the power of the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
The film was written and directed by Rodrigo García (THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER and NINE LIVES) and produced by Lisa Maria Falcone through her Everest Entertainment and Julie Lynn via her Mockingbird Pictures. The films’ director of photography is Xavier Grobet (CITY OF EMBER, THE WOODSMAN, NACHO LIBRE,) Steven Weisberg edited (HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, PERMANENT MIDNIGHT), with music by Ed Shearmur (WINGS OF THE DOVE, FACTORY GIRL). The award-winning cast includes Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, and Kerry Washington. The Executive Producer is Alejandro González Iñárritu (BABEL)
“We have known Rodrigo García for a long time, first as the cinematographer of MI VIDA LOCA in the early ‘90s, then as a writer and director, and have always been impressed with his incredible skill at creating roles for actors, especially for women. With MOTHER AND CHILD Rodrigo has managed to define characters which allow for career best performances for all of the actors he has cast in a film that we feel will connect with people all over the U.S. We are excited to be working with him, his remarkable cast and his producers Julie Lynn and Lisa Maria Falcone,” said Sony Pictures Classics.
I’ve been wanting to work with Tom and Michael for a long time. SPC is one of the great brands in independent filmmaking. It’s so fortunate that we can be part of that family,” said director Rodrigo García
"This was a very personal story, which spoke to me on an emotional level as both a producer and a mother." said Lisa Maria Falcone. “We are proud to be involved with such a talented team and its’ unique combination of powerful writing and exceptional cast performances. We are also excited to be donating some of our proceeds to wonderful charities supporting women and children."
“Tom and Michael love films and filmmakers. We are so honored to partner with them and take advantage of their incredible expertise,” added Julie Lynn.
The deal re-partners SPC with producer Julie Lynn, with whom SPC worked on THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB. It also reconnects SPC with Annette Bening, who was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award® for her role in SPC's 2004 BEING JULIA.
The international sales agent for the film is WestEnd Films.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world.
Barker and Bernard’s films are among the most prestigious films of all time. They have produced 24 Academy Award® winners (21 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered over 100 Academy Award® nominations (72 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.
Over the years, Barker and Bernard fostered relationships with many of the world's finest independent filmmakers including Robert Altman, Ang Lee, Richard Linklater, Guillermo del Toro, Francois Truffaut, David Cronenberg, Jonathan Demme, Woody Allen, Walter Salles, Todd Haynes, Nicole Holofcener, Errol Morris, Zhang Yimou, Wong Kar Wai, Ingmar Bergman, Neil Jordan, Francis Ford Coppola, and David Mamet.
Sony Pictures Classics have recently released the critical and box office hit AN EDUCATION as well as TYSON, EVERY LITTLE STEP, WHATEVER WORKS, MOON, IT MIGHT GET LOUD, COCO BEFORE CHANEL, and THE DAMNED UNITED. Their upcoming release slate includes BROKEN EMBRACES as well as COCO CHANEL AND IGOR STRAVINSKY, THE WHITE RIBBON, WILD GRASS, A PROPHET, BLOOD SIMPLE, IMAGINARIUM OF DR. PARNASSUS, MICMACS, TAMARA DREWE, LEBANON, GET LOW and THE LAST STATION.
Additional honors include “The Honors Award” from the Director's Guild of America, the “Chevalier Order of Arts and Letters” from the French government, the Gotham Industry Lifetime Achievement Award (IFP), the FINDIE Award (IFP/West Spirit Awards), and the GLAAD Media Award. At Sony Corporation’s global management conference, SPC received the “Distinguished Special Recognition” award two years in a row for their successful business operation.
ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services, and technologies; and distribution of filmed entertainment in more than 100 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found at http://www.sonypictures.com.
ABOUT EVEREST ENTERTAINMENT
Everest Entertainment, founded in 2008 by Lisa Maria Falcone, is a New York City based production company committed to developing high quality film and television content based on strong writing, complex characters and meaningful subjects. Everest differentiates itself by its commitment to donate a portion of proceeds to philanthropic causes consistent with the themes of its work. In keeping with this pledge, Everest will donate a share of its profits from ‘Mother and Child,’ Everest’s first feature film, to charities providing services and support for women and children.
Click here to watch a clip from the film featuring Samuel L. Jackson and Naomi Watts.
Click here to watch MakingOf's interview with writer-director Rodrigo García.
FOR MORE DAILY MOVIE GOODNESS, VISIT FILMJUNK.COM!
Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will produce the ensemble drama "Mother and Child."
Helming and writing the $4.5 million project is Rodrigio Garcia for distributor Focus Features.
The story tells of the intertwined lives of a mother who gave up her daughter for adoption thirty five years ago, the daughter and an African American woman in need of adopting a baby.
Del Toro is known for his work on both "Hellboy" flicks as well as critically acclaimed "The Orphanage." Inarritu helmed Academy Award® winner Babel and Cuaron has "Children of Men" as well as "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" under his belt.
Filming starts sometime from December to January.
