A banner year in Park City continued to deliver the goods as Magnolia Pictures acquired world rights to Sean Baker’s comedy. Separately, Fox Searchlight closed a major deal for Brooklyn, while Alchemy, SPC and Lionsgate confirmed previously reported buys on Strangerland, The Diary Of A Teenage Girl and Knock Knock.

Fox Searchlight was expected to confirm its deal on Wednesday for most of the world excluding pre-sold UK, Australia and Canada for John Crowley’s Brooklyn in what reports said was a $9m deal.

Magnolia brokered the deal for NEXT selection Tangerine (pictured) with ICM Partners and Submarine and plans a theatrical release later this year.

Baker directed and co-wrote Tangerine with Chris Bergoch. Mark and Jay Duplass, who last week announced a four-film deal with Netflix, served as executive producers alongside Through Films.

Trans actresses Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez make their debuts as working girls in search of a wayward pimp on Christmas Eve in Hollywood. James Ransone and Karren Karagulian round out the key cast.

Baker produced with Darren Dean and Shih-Ching Tsou as well as Karrie Cox and Marcus Cox.

  • Bill Lee’s recently rebranded Alchemy has confirmed its North American deal for Kim Farrant’s Strangerland starring Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes and Hugo Weaving. The company plans a multi-platform release later this year. Alchemy negotiated the deal with CAA. Wild Bunch handles international sales and Transmission will distribute in Australia and New Zealand.
  • Sony Pictures Classics has confirmed its deal for North America and multiple territories on Marielle Heller’s The Diary Of A Teenage Girl. UTA Independent Film Group represented the film-makers and K5 and handled negotiations for North America, Germany, Latin America, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand, Eastern Europe excluding Russia, and Asia. K5 represents remaining territories.
  • Sources have confirmed Lionsgate’s $2.5m North American deal for the Chilewood thriller Knock Knock starring Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo and Ana De Armas. Cassian Elwes and CAA represented the film-makers. Voltage Pictures handles international sales.

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