October Films confirmed yesterday that it has acquired all North American distribution rights to "Ruby in Paradise," which shared the Grand Jury Prize with "Public Access" at last month's Sundance Film Festival.
New York-based October'sacquisition and print and advertising commitment for "Ruby" checked in at $ 1 million. The sale was engineered by the Paul Kohner Agency's Gary Salt, who represents director Victor Nunez.
"Ruby" is one of the most ambitious releases for the fledgling October distribution shingle. October co-managing executive Bingham Ray acknowledged that "Ruby" rates as the company's "highest-profile acquisition" in the independent marketplace. He said the deal "signals the competition that we are fully funded, aggressive and mean business."
"Ruby in Paradise" is the second Sundance movie to be acquired by an independent distrib for North American distribution. As previously reported, Fine Line Features ponied up roughly $ 750,000 for North American distribution rights for "Amongst Friends," which was produced for about $ 1 million.
Set in Panama City, Fla., "Ruby in Paradise" is about a girl from Tennessee who sets out on her own and comes to grips with the pleasures and pitfalls of womanhood. Sundance Film Festival director Geoffrey Gilmore described "Ruby" as "one of the most moving films" he had seen, capturing "real truths on screen without manipulation or excess."
Key to October campaign for "Ruby" is newcomer Ashley Judd, who stars as Ruby Lee Gising in the film. Judd is the sister of Wynonna Judd and the daughter of Naomi Judd of country music fame. Represented by William Morris Agency, Judd currently appears in the NBC television series "Sisters."
October plans to roll the movie out this fall. October co-managing executive Jeff Lipsky said the company is currently "in the process of building a sophisticaated Southern strategy," which includes junkets to at least 24 markets. Stops include Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Knoxville and the Florida communities of Melbourne and Panama City.
Discussions for October's acquisition of "Ruby" started at the Sundance Film Festival, with the distributor rumored to have an agreement in principle by the final night awards ceremony. But the Grand Jury Prize for "Ruby"created a whirlwind of interest for the picture, which delayed October's ability to close a deal.
In addition to Judd, "Ruby" stars Todd Field, Bentley Mitchum, Allison Dean and Dorothy Lyman.
Last year, October announced that it had concluded a private placement of equity with institutional investors Allen & Co. and Siegler, Collery & Co. in the lead. Allen & Co. acted as placement agent in the placement, which built up October's war chest for the acquisition of independent film.
Headed by Lipsky, Amir Malin, Ray and John Schmidt, October has previously released such movies as Gerard Depardieu's "Tous Les Matins Du Monde,""The Living End" and "Life is Sweet." The company's next release is the omnibus of shorts "Two Mikes Don't Make a Wright," which debuts in March.
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