Winter’s Bone added to SXSW lineup

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Winter’s Bone will be screened at the South by Southwest festival in Austin in March as part of the Festival Favorites program. If you’re thinking of going, the complete SXSW 2010 schedule will probably show up here one of these days. This year, the festival runs from March 12 to 21.

Before that, the film will have its European premiere at the Berlinale. Here are the dates and venues:

Winter's Bone, Berlinale, berlin film festival, screening schedule

In the meantime, Winter’s Bone has also found an international distributor. Fortissimo Films has bought worldwide sales rights from Anonymous Content. From Screen Daily:

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes and Dale Dickey, Winter’s Bone will have its European premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, where it is screening in the Forum section and as a special presentation in Generations 14+.

Fortissimo chairman Michael J. Werner said: “As I was watching the film at an early morning screening in Sundance, I began to realize that I was seeing a real gem; masterfully directed, artfully written and beautifully acted.”

Producers Alix Madigan and Anne Rosellini added: “We are thrilled to be working with Fortissimo and to be in the company of the excellent films they represent.”

Winter’s Bone wins at Sundance

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Winter’s Bone won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this weekend and also a Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, which went to Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini.

Roadside Attractions snagged the domestic distribution rights and the film is now expected to see the light of day in the summer, at least in the U.S.

The press release:

Park City,Utah (January 30, 2010) – In a deal for one of Sundance’s most critically-acclaimed films, Roadside Attractions has acquired all North American rights to Debra Granik’s Dramatic Competition thriller WINTER’S BONE. Featuring an astonishing, star-making performance from actress Jennifer Lawrence (Jodie Foster’s upcoming Mel Gibson starrer THE BEAVER), WINTER’S BONE follows 17-year-old Ree Dolly as she faces down the unforgiving Ozark wilderness and an even more hostile criminal underworld in an attempt to find her missing father, who has put up the family homestead for his bail.

“With WINTER’S BONE, Debra Granik has crafted a classic detective story, a nail-biting thriller and an unbelievably touching family drama, all in one film,” said Roadside’s Head of Acquisitions and Business Affairs, Dustin Smith. “It’s everything Sundance is about. It’s everything independent film is about. And it’s everything I go to the movies for. We cannot wait to help Debra and her team get this film in front of as many people as humanly possible.”

Roadside plans to release the film theatrically this summer, with Lionsgate handling all ancillaries later in the year.

Adapted from a novel by Missouri-based author Daniel Woodrell (Ride With the Devil), WINTER’S BONE was directed by Debra Granik, whose 2004 film Down To the Bone won two Sundance jury prizes and launched the career of UP IN THE AIR star Vera Farmiga. The WINTER’S BONE screenplay was adapted by Granik and Anne Rosellini,who also produced along with Alix Madigan. Executive Producers were Jonathan Scheuer and Shawn Simon. In addition to Jennifer Lawrence, the film also features stunning performances by John Hawkes (Me and You and Everyone We Know) and Dale Dickey (Changeling) as well as a team of supporting players cast directly from the Ozark region depicted in the film. WINTER’S BONE is a production of Anonymous Content and Winter’s Bone Productions.

Following its Sundance launch, WINTER’S BONE will have its international premiere next month as an Official Selection of the 60th Berlin International Film Festival.

The deal was brokered by Dustin Smith and Howard Cohen for Roadside and Josh Braun and Jason Janego of Submarine Entertainment, on behalf of the filmmakers.