FilmNation sold out international territories on Late Night before the Emma Thompson-Mindy Kaling crowd-pleaser premiered at Sundance and triggered a marquee $13m US deal with Amazon Studios, Screendaily has learned.
Nisha Ganatra directed the feature from a screenplay by Kaling about an out-of-touch veteran talk show host facing the axe who hires her first female writer in a nod to diversity and a bid to save the show. In the end the women have a profound impact on each other’s lives.
FilmNation chief Glen Basner and his team concluded the deals last year but they were never announced. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) picked up the bulk of territories, including Spain, Mexico, Italy, China, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Benelux, and the Middle East.
Rights for the UK, Canada, Germany and Austria went to eOne, while France landed at A.R.P., Australia and New Zealand went to Roadshow Films, and Switzerland went to Elite Film. Lev Cinemas acquired Israel, and Terry Steiner International picked up airlines rights.
SPWA also acquired Late Night for Russia and CIS, Scandinavia, Portugal, India, Argentina, Netherlands, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Colombia, Poland, Chile, Turkey, and Latin American pay-TV, among others.
FilmNation, with whom Amazon Studios has collaborated for several years, financed the feature with 30WEST. CAA Media Finance and 30WEST negotiated the US deal with Amazon Studios on behalf of the filmmakers.
Ganatra’s directing credits include episodes of The Mindy Project, Transparent, Mr. Robot, and Girls. The Late Night cast includes John Lithgow, Paul Walter Hauser, Reid Scott, and Amy Ryan.
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