Sony Pictures Classics Acquires Michael Dudok De Wit's The Red Turtle

NEW YORK (May 19, 2016) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in North America and Latin America to Michael Dudok de Wit's THE RED TURTLE. The film premiered yesterday in Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival to strong reviews. As previously announced, Sony Pictures Classics also acquired Paul Verhoeven's ELLE and Maren Ade's TONI ERMANN out of the festival.

The film is produced by Wild Bunch and Studio Ghibli in association with Why Not Productions. The deal was negotiated by Carole Baraton on behalf of Wild Bunch and Sony Pictures Classics.

Through the story of a man shipwrecked on a tropical island inhabited by turtles, crabs and birds, THE RED TURTLE recounts the milestones in the life of a human being.

"THE RED TURTLE takes you on an ultimate journey through life. It sweeps you up in fantasy, poetry, and awesome visual beauty. Artistically and commercially it is a major movie for all ages. It is a privilege to collaborate with Studio Ghibli, Pascal Cauchetaux, and Wild Bunch in bringing THE RED TURTLE to the American audiences," said Sony Pictures Classics.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 32 Academy Awards® (28 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 159 Academy Award® nominations (133 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; home entertainment acquisition and distribution; a global channel network; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of entertainment in more than 142 countries. For additional information, go to http://www.sonypictures.com/.