IFC strikes second Sundance deal in less than a week

The company paid mid to high-six figures for North American rights to Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg’s Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work.

The documentary chronicles the private dramas of the irreverent comedian as she fights tooth and nail to keep her American dream alive. It won the US documentary editing award for Penelope Falk. Seth Keal produced with Stern and Sundberg.

IFC’s Arianna Bocco struck the deal with Josh Braun and Jason Janego of Submarine Entertainment and IFC Films will release in theatres later this year.

IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring called Joan Rivers: A Piece Of Work “one of the most truthful and ultimately inspiring films about show business ever made.”

Earlier in the day IFC announced it had picked up North American rights to Anders Anderson’s mystery thriller Stolen.

Josh Lucas and Jon Hamm, from the hit US TV series Mad Men, star in the film about a small-town police chief who works to uncover the truth behind the mummified remains of a boy found in a box, buried for 50 years.

Anderson’s business partner Andy Steinman produced under the A2 Entertainment Group label. Glenn Taranto wrote the screenplay and James Van Der Beek and Rhona Mitra round out the key cast.

IFC’s Lizzie Nastro and Arianna Bocco brokered the deal with Chris Perry at Arclight. The film was formerly known as Stolen Lives.

IFC will release in March through its IFC In Theaters day-and-date theatrical and VOD platform.