Mongrel Media has acquired all Canadian rights to James Marsh and Simon Chinn’s Project Nim following its award winning world premiere at Sundance last month.

Josh Braun and David Koh of Submarine Entertainment brokered the deal on behalf of the producers with Mongrel president Hussain Amarshi.

HBO Documentary Films holds all US rights and will partner with US theatrical and DVD rights holder Roadside Attractions on the US release. Icon International represents sales for the rest of the world.

Mongrel plans a 2011 theatrical and DVD release on the documentary, about a series of experiments designed to teach a chimpanzee to talk.

Marsh was named best director in the World Documentary Competition strand and previously won the documentary Academy Award for Man On Wire. Chinn produced both films.

John Battsek, Andrew Ruhemann, Nick Fraser, Hugo Grumbar and Jamie Laurenson served as executive producers.

Topics