SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES DOGWOOF'S MAIDEN

TORONTO (SEPTEMBER 8, 2018) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today that they have acquired all rights in North America, Middle East, South Africa, Scandinavia, Benelux, India and worldwide airlines to Dogwoof's MAIDEN, by Alex Holmes. The documentary had its world premiere at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival.

The deal was negotiated between Sony Pictures Classics and Dogwoof on behalf of London-based production company New Black Films.

MAIDEN is the inspirational story of how Tracy Edwards, a 24-year-old cook on charter boats, became the skipper of the first ever all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. Tracy’s dream was opposed on all sides: her male competitors thought an all-women crew would never make it, the chauvinistic yachting press took bets on her failure, and potential sponsors rejected her, fearing they would die at sea and generate bad publicity. But Tracy refused to give up: she remortgaged her home and bought a secondhand boat, putting everything on the line to ensure the team made it to the start line. Although blessed with tremendous self-belief, Tracy was also beset by crippling doubts and was only able to make it through with the support of her remarkable crew. With their help she went on to shock the sport and prove that women are the equal of men.

MAIDEN was produced by Alex Holmes and Victoria Gregory. The film was executive produced by James Erskine.

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 39 Academy Awards® (35 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 169 Academy Award® nominations (147 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

ABOUT NEW BLACK FILMS

Dynamic and innovative, New Black Films is among the world’s leading producers of theatrically distributed sports films with an outstanding track record of critical and commercial success.  Based in London the company is headed by Emmy-nominated and BAFTA-winning filmmakers James Erskine (The Battle of the Sexes, Sachin: A Billion Dreams, The Ice King), Alex Holmes (House of Saddam, Coalition, Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story) and Victoria Gregory (Senna, Man on Wire, Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist).

ABOUT DOGWOOF

Dogwoof is regarded as the foremost documentary specialist brand in the world and is a stamp of the highest quality content. They sell worldwide, distribute theatrically in the UK and invest in the production of creative feature docs and docu-series. Founded in 2004, notable releases include theatrical hits such as Blackfish and Dior and I and acclaimed titles such as OSCAR®-nominated Cartel Land and BAFTA-winning The Act of Killing. Dogwoof recently launched a film investment fund - TDog Productions - focusing on the development and production of feature docs and docu-series, gearing up the company towards vertical integration of production, sales and distribution.