Humpday Over Sundance Sales Hump with Low-to-Mid Six-Figure Magnolia Deal (news)
By Gregg Goldstein
Humpday has finally gotten over the Sundance hump.
In the answer to the parlor game of a slow initial sales weekend, Magnolia Pictures nabbed worldwide rights to Lynn Shelton's surprise hit comedy in a low-to-mid six-figure deal.
It's all the more notable because the film has no name talent attached, save 'mumblecore' fave Mark Duplass. The Friday premiere in the US Dramatic Competition section stars Duplass and Joshua Leonard as straight best buds who dare each other to costar in a gay porn film.
The unusual deal has Magnolia releasing the film in a nationwide on-demand release via their Ultra VOD platform, followed by a 15-market theatrical release. The filmmakers will take a share of all VOD revenue.
Four indie distribs were in the running until Sunday night, when the Cuban/Wagner Co-owned Magnolia settled in as the front-runner. Duplass' Baghead sold for $300,000 to Sony Pictures Classics at last year's Sundance but made less at the box office, so the viability of another star-free comedy was questioned before the fest began.
The deal was negotiated by Josh Braun and Kevin Iwashina of Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers. The filmmakers legal rep is Lance Rosen, at Rosen Lewis, PLLC.