Citizen Ashe

Source: CNN Films

Citizen Ashe

Heading into its international premiere at BFI London Film Festival on Sunday (October 10) Magnolia Pictures has acquired US theatrical rights to Citizen Ashe, the documentary about pioneering tennis champion Arthur Ashe.

Rex Miller and Sam Pollard directed the feature produced by Dogwoof for CNN Films and HBO Max. The film premiered at Telluride last month and will open in cinemas in New York on December 3 and in Los Angeles on December 10 accompanied by an Oscar campaign.

Citizen Ashe reveals the private person behind the historic Grand Slam titles and Ashe’s anti-racism and human rights activism. It features interviews with Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Johnnie Ashe and tennis legends Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Donald Dell, Charlie Pasarell, and Lenny Simpson as well as activist Prof. Harry Edwards.

Dori Begley and John Von Thaden negotiated the theatrical deal on behalf of Magnolia Pictures with CNN Worldwide SVP business affairs Stacey Wolf for CNN Films.

Beth Hubbard, Miller, Dogwoof CEO Anna Godas, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, Steven Cantor, and Jamie Schutz produced and the executive producers are David Acker, William Ackman, David Barden, Geralyn Dreyfous, Nina and David Fialkow, Alex Gibney, Patty Quillin, Rick Rosenthal, Regina K. Scully, Tony Tabatznik, David Ulich, Steven Ungerleider, and Mike Jackson on behalf of Get Lifted Film Co. and his partners John Legend and Ty Stiklorius.

As previously announced CNN Films will present the broadcast premiere and the film will stream on HBO Max.

Magnolia Pictures and CNN Films have collaborated on Emmy-nominated John Lewis: Good Trouble, Oscar- and Bafta-nominated RBG, Emmy-nominated Scandalous: The Untold Story Of The National Enquirer, and Bafta-nominated Blackfish.