EXCLUSIVE: Hours after making Oscar history on Parasite‘s dual Best Picture and Best International Film Oscar, Neon has closed a deal for the Sundance Film Festival buzz title Shirley. Deal is for North American rights and went for low seven figures.
Directed by Josephine Decker from a script by Sarah Gubbins, the film stars Elisabeth Moss, Michael Stuhlbarg, Odessa Young and Logan Lerman. Pic tells the story of what happens when a young couple moves in with the famed author, Shirley Jackson, and her Bennington College professor husband, Stanley Hyman. The young couple hopes to start a new life but instead find themselves fodder for a psycho-drama that inspires Shirley’s next novel.
Pic premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, and premiered January 25 at the Eccles in Park City. The film was financed by Los Angeles Media Fund, and produced by Christine Vachon, David Hinojosa, Sue Naegle, Gubbins, and LAMF’s Jeffrey Soros and Simon Horsman. Elisabeth Moss is also producing.
Said Decker: “I am thrilled to be collaborating with the fearless team at Neon! They take risks and know how to connect with audiences who want a vibrant cinematic ride. I congratulate them on Parasite’s huge Oscar wins this weekend! So happy to be teammates!”
Paradigm and UTA Independent brokered the deal, and Cornerstone is selling international.
Neon had a strong Sundance. Tom Quinn’s distribution shingle came into the festival with a pre-buy of the Saoirse Ronan-Kate Winslet-starrer Ammonite, and teamed with Hulu for the festival record-breaking $22 million deal for Palm Springs.