Neon said on Tuesday (21) it will launch Matt Wolf’s timely quarantine experiment documentary Spaceship Earth on May 8 and will partner with exhibitors and other parties in a multi-pronged strategy.
The film will play theatrically in participating US drive-ins, and select pop-up city-scape projections. Neon has also arranged with exhibitors to launch the film on theatre websites and websites of other affected businesses interested in participating.
Current confirmed distribution partners include film festivals, museums, bookstores, and restaurants.
Rounding out the release strategy is a simultaneous digital launch on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, FandangoNow, Vudu, DIRECTV, DISH and longtime Neon partner Hulu.
Spaceship Earth debuted in Park City and tells the true story of eight people who in 1991 spent two years quarantined inside a self-engineered replica of Earth’s ecosystem called Biosphere 2.
The experiment was a worldwide phenomenon, chronicling daily existence in the face of life-threatening ecological disaster amid a growing criticism that it was nothing more than a cult. The film is an Impact Partners’, RadicalMedia and Stacey Reiss production.
Distribution partners will get the option to host private screenings and / or co-host live online Q&A’s and panels with filmmakers, film subjects and special guests. A partial list of non-traditional partners includes Atlas Obscura, Earth Day Network, Books are Magic, the Explorers Club, Posteritati, Fernbank Museum, NYC Trivia League, Talcott Mountain Science Center, Ground Support Cafe, Explorers Club, Malaprop’s Bookstore/Cafe, SITE Sante Fe, Synergetic Press, City Growers, Bud Werner Memorial Library, Santa Monica French bistro Pasjoli and Brooklyn’s famous eatery Locanda Vinii & Olie.
Other small businesses and organisations in the US interested in partnering with Neon can learn more and sign-up here.
“Neon has never released a film without the benefit of theatres and Spaceship Earth is no exception to that rule,” said founder and CEO Tom Quinn. “As every day becomes a harsh, almost surreal, new reality, it’s clear we must continue launching new films and entertain audiences as best we can.
“It’s also important we innovate and adapt to support the many businesses in need. Even though Spaceship Earth won’t be playing in theatres across the country we hope by making it available ‘everywhere’ the film’s release can at least embody the communal spirit of cinema if not the big screen. We miss our partners in exhibition greatly and look forward to cinema’s triumphant return.”
Details of the film’s global launch plans will be announced later this week.
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