Anatomy of a Cannes deal: how North American buyer Utopia beat bigger rivals to get Ali Abbasi’s film “Holy Spider” in competition at Cannes

Exclusive: Utopia concludes North American deal on Cannes photo contest holy spider, noir thriller by Iranian director Daniel Ali Abbas. We told you that the agreement was only a few days ago.

Based on a horrifying true story, the film tells the story of a journalist, Rahim (Tsar Amir Ebrahimi), who travels to the holy city of Mashhad, Iran, to investigate a serial killer (Mehdi Bajestan) who he believes is making God’s favor. work, street cleaning. Killing the prostitutes of sinners. As the death toll increases and Rahim approaches to reveal his crimes, the prospect of justice becomes increasingly elusive as the “spider killer” treats many as heroes.

The Persian language film was one of the surprises of the skin. Not only for its impressive value, but also for its North American buyer: Utopia, an independent sales and distribution company based in New York. The acquisition is the company’s largest and most eye-catching acquisition to date.

The deal was brokered by Daniel Digiacomo on behalf of Utopia, CAA Media Finance and Eva Diderix on behalf of Wild Bunch International.

The Utopia sales and distribution company was founded three years ago by director and musician Robert Schwartzman, son of Talia Shire and grandson of Francis Ford Coppola. It has been rumored for some time that the company may someday become something of a neon. Also during this transaction, we were told that the company had “neon-like potential”.

Digiacomo, the company’s content manager, returns to the United States today and spent time in London discussing how the company won the Cannes title.

“holy spider “It was almost at the top of my list at the festival,” the New Yorker told us. ᲛHe loved it Perimeter [Abbasi’s previous film] And I loved that this movie sounded dark. I thought it was going to be more than your average genre film or real criminal procedure. When I saw it at the first market show last week, I was constantly thinking about Travis Bickle. Taxi driver As for the masculine character. Then you have this heroine woman that you really support and that she is opposed to so much sexism. It certainly deserves to be seen several times for the large number of scrolls. As soon as we saw it, we immediately stopped. Nobody came out of the buyers’ projection, which is very unusual, even in graphic moments “.

Digiacomo offered us the offer after seeing it last week. “I came strong,” she admits. This was the company’s largest financial expense to date. “I knew it would be a challenge to accept it. We knew some great players were interested, but we were aggressive. Our whole team liked it. We felt like we had to bring everything to this market in this particular film. It wasn’t just about the money; We’ve already thought about creative ways to unlock the potential of this and its rewards.

Buyer and his team met with directors, salespeople and “followed him obsessively until closing.” “This is my modus operandi. “I don’t really wait for criticism to come out, until I’m going to prosecute,” he told us.

The film, characterized by graphic sex and violence, provoked a visceral reaction from the critics. “I get it,” he says. “I’m not interested in polarized reactions, that’s the purpose of making a film. “I appreciate films that divide and create a cultural dialogue”.

The film is expected to be the largest release of Utopia to date, despite the expected R rating. “We want to reach the widest possible audience and make sure this is a film that everyone is talking about this year and for years to come, “he said.

How wide can it be? “It’s hard to give a number right now, but it means we’ll be running a PR campaign with our regular marketing staff. This means creating a festival and awards campaign and exploring the marketing materials, and we will work closely with the director. This is what we will publish in the traditional theatrical way. In our view, this is a parasite –A level film “.

Abbas, whose latest film Perimeter After winning the Oscar nomination at Cannes 2018 in 2018, he said about working with the company: “I’m looking forward to working with a great team of utopias, a film-obsessed company that takes and takes risks. It does not compromise. “

Utopia just had a private investment that allows it to experience greater fluctuations, says Digiacomo.

“Other investments are coming to the company. Private investors are helping us make bigger swings on the buying front and are offering us a commitment to P&A spending. “

Issues to date include the Independent Spirit Award winner Little Shiva by Emma Seligman; Dasha Nekrasova Premiere at the Berlinale Seventy-one terrible; Leather selection and NYFF Turbines Gaspar Noah; And more Lena Dunham small furniture, a sharp stick.

“We have had rapid growth, even if a lot has happened during Covid”. – says Digikomo. “Taking the Gaspar Noah movie Turbines The last skin was the perfect next step for us. The film is out now and we see that most of the viewers who have seen the film are over 20 years old. We admire the exciting and innovative films that bring people to the cinema. There are a lot of movies that you should see on the big screen. we will rise holy spider “On the big screen and in streaming, but this is a movie that a lot of people will love to see on the big screen.”

In terms of neon comparisons, the former Orchard executive adds: “Listening is flattering and we feel respected for saying it. We have the ambition to create a cultural conversation, reach a young audience and showcase female directors. It is a space to grow. We started our Originals line and we really want to diversify our business by going into production ”.

Utopia Originals ‘upcoming projects include Norman Reedus’ partnership with Bigbaldhead Productions and Shout! she studies The Sorot house massacre TV series, based on the cult film of the same name.

The company also publishes several “different titles” in the Un Certain Regard mascara line.

holy spider Produced by Sol Bond (A fairy taleand Jacob Jarekdo not speak ill). The production companies are Profile Pictures and One Two Films, while the co-producers are Nordisk Film Production, Wild Bunch International, Film i Väst, Why Not Productions, ZDF / ARTE and ARTE France Cinéma.