EXCLUSIVE: Acquisition information out at the moment could have comedy followers giving thanks — Thank You Very A lot, the documentary concerning the late Andy Kaufman, has been picked up by Drafthouse Movies.
The movie directed by Emmy winner Alex Braverman is introduced by Morgan Neville’s Tremolo Productions, Elara Footage, and Jenifer Westphal’s Wavelength. The acquisition deal covers North American theatrical and digital rights; Drafthouse plans an early 2025 launch in choose cities, adopted by a digital launch on choose streaming platforms. Thank You Very A lot premiered on the eightieth Venice Movie Pageant final 12 months — the place it received the Venice Classics Award for Finest Documentary – adopted by a U.S. premiere on the Telluride Movie Pageant.
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH traces the life and profession of legendary efficiency artist Andy Kaufman, exploring the enigmatic legend’s gonzo, boundary-shattering comedy which provoked and sometimes outraged audiences,” notes a synopsis. “The movie reveals a nuanced understanding of what drove the mercurial performer, who impressed a whole technology of offbeat comedians and entertainers after him. The movie contains uncommon, by no means earlier than seen footage and audio recordings that shed new mild on Kaufman’s artistic course of; together with newly uncovered archival footage and intimate recollections of buddies, colleagues, and relations, and interviews with Kaufman’s closest collaborators comparable to Bob Zmuda, Lynne Margulies, Steve Martin, Danny DeVito, and Marilu Henner. THANK YOU VERY MUCH excavates the all-too-short life and profession of a comedy iconoclast whose affect is felt all of the extra at the moment with the blurring of artifice and actuality that defines our current age.”
Along with Venice and Telluride, the documentary has screened at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, DOC NYC, the Santa Barbara Worldwide Movie Pageant, and the Scorching Springs Documentary Movie Pageant in Arkansas, amongst different main festivals.
Director Alex Braverman poses with the Venice Classics Award for Finest Documentary for ‘Thank You Very A lot’ on the Venice Movie Pageant
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Photos
“I’ve been obsessive about Andy Kaufman my whole life. He’s probably the most thrilling, enigmatic performer and we will really feel his affect throughout our leisure, artwork, and politics – at the moment greater than ever,” stated Braverman, who directed and produced the movie. “It’s an excellent privilege and a pleasure to have the ability to share my imaginative and prescient of his life and work with audiences on the large display.”
Producing together with Braverman are Tremolo Productions’ Lauren Belfer, and Wavelength’s Joe Plummer. Government producers embrace Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, Chuck Braverman (who produced Kaufman’s 1979 particular Andy Kaufman Performs Carnegie Corridor), document producer Rick Rubin, and Wavelength’s Jenifer Westphal.
“Andy Kaufman is a singular determine in our tradition and Alex has made a superb movie that helps our understanding of Andy, whereas someway deepening the thriller,” Neville stated in a press release. “All the nice companions on this mission—Wavelength, Elara Footage and Rick [Rubin]—labored to assist unfold the gospel of Andy. Let the phrase carry.”
Big Footage’ Shayna Weingast negotiated the acquisition take care of Jessica Lacy of Vary Media Companions for Thank You Very A lot.
Andy Kaufman (1949 – 1984) performs onstage in Chicago, September 17, 1978
Paul Natkin/Getty Photos
“THANK YOU VERY MUCH is a testomony to Kaufman’s timeless affect on comedy and tradition that affirms his standing as a visionary whose physique of labor continues to resonate,” stated Weingast, Big Footage’ content material acquisitions supervisor. “Braverman paints a nuanced and complete portrait that’s certain to fulfill each novices looking for an introduction and lifelong followers hoping to deepen their understanding of the person behind the enigmatic façade. The Drafthouse workforce is thrilled to have this chance to honor and have fun Kaufman’s inventive legacy.”
Credit of Wavelength, the manufacturing studio primarily based in New York and London, embrace the key field workplace hit Gained’t You Be My Neighbor?, Oscar-shortlisted 32 Sounds, Emmy winners Artwork & Krimes By Krimes, Feels Good Man, and Athlete A, in addition to the narrative movie On Swift Horses, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, which simply premiered on the Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant.
“We’re thrilled to as soon as once more associate with Drafthouse Movies, following our current collaboration on CHOP & STEELE, to deliver Andy Kaufman’s outstanding story to audiences,” stated Jenifer Westphal, Founder, CEO, and govt producer at Wavelength. “THANK YOU VERY MUCH provides an intimate and contemporary perspective on an iconic artist whose affect continues to form at the moment’s comedic panorama, and we’re excited to share this definitive documentary with the world.”
