Sony Pictures Classics has acquired British director Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or contender ‘Jimmy’s Hall’ for North American release.
The movie makes its world premiere in competition at the Cannes Film Festival this Thursday, May 22. Sony Classics are currently negotiating a deal for North American right along with Wild Bunch, who are handling sales. ‘Jimmy’s Hall’ is a Sixteen Films, Element Pictures, Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch production. Film4, the British Film Institute and the Irish Film Board are bankrolling the development, with Entertainment One inking an early deal for U.K. distribution rights to the movie.
The UK/Irish/French co-production was shot on location in Leitrim and Sligo and tells the true story of Jimmy Gralton, who set up a dance hall on a rural crossroads in an Ireland on the brink of civil war. The film stars Barry Ward, Simone Kirby and Andrew Scott as well as a strong supporting cast of Irish talent. ‘Jimmy’s Hall’ is Loach’s 12th film to play at Cannes and his 10th collaboration with writer Paul Laverty. Loach previously won the 2006 Palme d’Or award for ‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’ and the three jury prizes for 2012’s ‘The Angel’s Share’, ‘Raining Stones’ and ‘Hidden Agenda’.
‘Jimmy's Hall’ marks Sony Classics' third acquisition this year at Cannes, where co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard already secured ‘Saint Laurent’ and ‘Wild Tales’.
In other Cannes news, Paris-based Reel Suspects has sold Brendan Muldowney’s ‘Love Eternal’ to the US (Gravitas Ventures), Australia and New Zealand (Vendetta Films). Based on the Japanese novel ‘In Love with the Dead’, the feature follows a lonely, death-obsessed young man who tries to make sense of the world by venturing closer to death. It stars Polyanna McIntosh, Robert de Hoog and Amanda Ryan.
Loach’s ‘Jimmy’s Hall’ is set for a May 30 release in Ireland by Entertainment One. Check out the trailer below:
