SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES ‘NINE DAYS’ FOLLOWING SUNDANCE WORLD PREMIERE

NEW YORK (February 21, 2020) – Sony Pictures Classics announced today they have acquired rights in North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, India, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, South Africa, Benelux, Thailand, and on all airlines worldwide to Nine Days written and directed by Edson Oda and starring Winston Duke, Zazie Beetz, Bill Skarsgård, Benedict Wong, Tony Hale, David Rysdahl, and Arianna Ortiz. The film is a co-production between Juniper Productions, Mandalay Pictures, Nowhere, MACRO Media, and The Space Program, in association with Mansa Productions, Oak Street Pictures, 30WEST, Baked Studios and Datari Turner Productions. The film premiered last month at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.

Set in a house distant from the reality we know, Nine Days tells the story of a reclusive man named Will (Duke) who interviews prospective candidates—personifications of human souls—for the privilege he once had: to be born. Five contenders emerge, and during the course of Nine Days, Will tests each of them, but he can choose only one. The victor will be rewarded with a coveted opportunity to become a newborn in the real world, while the others will cease to exist—Nine Days is everything they’ll ever experience.

The project is produced by Jason Michael Berman of Mandalay Pictures (The Birth of a Nation, Mediterranea, Burning Sands), Mette-Marie Kongsved and Laura Tunstall of Nowhere (Come To Daddy, Boyz In the Wood), Matthew Lindner of Juniper Productions (The Birth of a Nation, Mediterranea) and Datari Turner (Uncorked, A Boy. A Girl. A Dream: Love on Election Night, LUV).

Executive Producers are Charles D. King, Kim Roth, Gus Deardoff, Kellon Akeem, Yandy Smith, Renée Frigo, Beth Hubbard, Trevor Groth, Winston Duke, Caroline Connor, Will Raynor, Mark C. Stevens, Mark G. Mathis, Kwesi Collisson, Larry Weinberg, George A. Loucas, Michelle Craig, and Piero Frescobaldi.

“Nine Days is one of those rare movies that will have a long life and stand the test of time,” said Sony Pictures Classics. “It’s about alternate realities—Black Mirror on the big screen, with touches of Wings of Desire and The Matrix. It offers surprises galore and marks the birth of a major filmmaker. We are excited to be introducing Nine Days to audiences around the world.”

“I grew up watching and admiring countless Sony Pictures Classics’ movies,” said Oda. “So many of their films—and the filmmakers they supported—ignited my passion for cinema and also propelled me to become a filmmaker. I’m so happy, humbled and honored to be working with them and can't wait to share Nine Days with the world.”

The producers Berman, Kongsved, Lindner, Tunstall, and Turner added, “It’s a dream come true to have made a film that Tom, Michael and Dylan love and want to give a theatrical release. Their sincere passion for Nine Days has been infectious and, in handing over our film, we can think of no better partners than Sony Pictures Classics.”

 The deal was negotiated by Larry Weinberg of Mandalay Pictures, and 30WEST and CAA Media Finance who are co-repping North American rights on behalf of the filmmakers.

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 175 Academy Award® nominations (149 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 SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, and  Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html.