Sundance 2011: THE LEDGE Gets Picked Up By IFC

Movie Charlie Hunnam Liv Tyler Patrick Wilson Sundance about 13 years agoby

IFC picked up distribution rights for The Ledge directed by Matthew Chapman today. The deal gives them US distribution rights somewhere in the low 7-figure range.

The Ledge, stars Charlie Hunnam, Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Terrence Howard and Christopher Gorham. It follows a hotel manager (Hunnam) ready to leap to his death. Howard plays the detective trying to talk him down, but he's been through a lot, too, and is equally conflicted about life being worth living.

This film was coveted by Wrekin Hill, Anchor Bay and ATO. The bidding began after Anchor Bay made a low seven-figure offer, forcing IFC to to increase their offer to make this deal their largest purchase to date. IFC is reported to be seriously circling the Roger Corman documentary Corman's World. The Ledge has been compared by buyers to the breakout of last year's fest Blue Valentine.

Read our review of the film HERE and check out the official press release below:

Park City, UT (January 24, 2011) – IFC FILMS announced today from the 2011 Sundance Film Festival that the company acquired the U.S. rights to THE LEDGE. The film, which is playing in the U.S. Dramatic Competition premiered this past Friday. THE LEDGE, directed and written by Matthew Chapman, stars Charlie Hunnam (SONS OF ANARCHY), Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson, Terrence Howard, and Christopher Gorham (UGLY BETTY). The film is produced by Mark Damon and Michael Mailer.

In this race-against-time thriller, the opposing philosophies of two men embroiled in a complicated love triangle with a beautiful woman (Tyler) escalate into a lethal battle of wills. Ultimately, the believer (Wilson) forces the non-believer (Hunnam) onto the ledge of a tall building. He gives him one hour to make a choice between his own life and someone else’s, a while a policeman (Howard) tries to convince him to come down. Without faith of an afterlife, will he be capable of such a sacrifice? THE LEDGE is a nuanced character study of love and conviction that will force you to ask how far you’d be willing to go for what you believe in.

Jonathan Sehring, President of Sundance Selects/IFC Films, said: “THE LEDGE is a well crafted and morally complex thriller that will really get people talking.”

"These days, there are many new and innovative ways to distribute a film, and new techniques are constantly evolving. IFC is at the forefront of cutting edge independent distribution, and it is their unique approach that convinced us they were the right theatrical distributor for THE LEDGE,” says producer Mark Damon.

Adds director Matthew Chapman, " Having watched THE LEDGE play to audiences in Sundance and seeing their reactions, I believe that with the help of IFC Films we will reach the widest audience possible, which was always my intention."

The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films and Betsy Rodgers, Vice President of Business and Legal Afffairs for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Cassian Elwes and Kevin Iwashina of Preferred Content, on behalf of Foresight Unlimited.