SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES SEBASTIÁN LELIO’S A FANTASTIC WOMAN (UNA MUJER FANTÁSTICA) FROM PARTICIPANT MEDIA

NEW YORK (February 9, 2017) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in North America, Australia and New Zealand to Sebastián Lelio’s A FANTASTIC WOMAN (UNA MUJER FANTÁSTICA) from Participant Media. The film will have its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in the Competition section on Sunday, February 12.

Written by Lelio and Gonzalo Maza, A FANTASTIC WOMAN (UNA MUJER FANTÁSTICA) stars Daniela Vega and Francisco Reyes. The film is produced by Fabula’s Juan de Dios Larraín and Pablo Larraín with German banner Komplizen Film, and executive produced by Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King of Participant Media.

A FANTASTIC WOMAN (UNA MUJER FANTÁSTICA) is the story of Marina, a waitress and singer, and Orlando, an older man, who are in love and planning for the future.  After Orlando suddenly falls ill and dies, Marina is forced to confront his family and society, and to fight again to show them who she is: complex, strong, forthright, fantastic.

Director Sebastián Lelio said, “I'm thrilled Sony Pictures Classics will be releasing A FANTASTIC WOMAN, and am excited by their passion for Marina's story.  The story is one of great human strength, which I hope will invite and challenge audiences to explore the limits of their own empathy. For me, Marina is an inspiration.”

“A FANTASTIC WOMAN is something special, timely, magical, dramatic and mysterious. We are so excited to be partnering again with our friends at Participant, Fabula and Komplizen on Sebastián Lelio's remarkable film,” stated Sony Pictures Classics.

Participant Media’s Jonathan King added, “After our rewarding collaborations on NO and NERUDA, we deeply value our ongoing relationship with Juan and Pablo, and we are excited that A FANTASTIC WOMAN is being received with the same kind of enthusiastic response.  We could not be happier to be back in business with our friends at Sony Pictures Classics in bringing Sebastian’s beautiful film to audiences.”

Sony Pictures Classics previously collaborated with Fabula and Participant Media on Pablo Larraín’s Academy Award^® nominated NO, and with Komplizen Film on this year’s Academy Award^® nominated TONI ERDMANN.

Gabriel Brakin and Jonathan King negotiated the deal on behalf of Participant Media. Funny Balloons is handling foreign sales for the remaining territories.

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 37 Academy Awards^® (33 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 159 Academy Award^® nominations (137 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 PARTICIPANT MEDIA

Participant Media (www.participantmedia.com) is the leading media company dedicated to entertainment that inspires and compels social change. Founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll, Participant’s content combines the power of a good story well told with opportunities for real world impact and awareness around the most pressing global issues of our time. Participant’s more than 75 films, including Spotlight, Contagion, Lincoln, The Help, He Named Me Malala, The Look of Silence, CITIZENFOUR, Food, Inc., and An Inconvenient Truth, have collectively earned 52 Academy Award® nominations and 11 wins, including Best Picture for Spotlight. Participant’s digital entertainment division, SoulPancake (www.soulpancake.com), is an award-winning provider of thought-provoking, joyful, and uplifting digital content including such widely popular series as Kid President and The Science of Happiness and reaches an audience of nearly 9 million fans.  Follow Participant Media on Twitter at @Participant and on Facebook and Instagram. Follow SoulPancake on Twitter @soulpancake and on Facebook and Instagram.

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/.