IFC snaps up rights to 'Nights'

Film bowed at SXSW festival

By WINTER MILLER

IFC has bought worldwide rights to Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig's SXSW preem, relationship drama 'Nights and Weekends.'

Jumpstarting the dealmaking at the South by Southwest Film Festival, IFC Entertainment has snapped up worldwide rights to "Nights and Weekends" -- the first time a film world preeming at SXSW has been acquired during the fest.

Written and directed by Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig (who also star), the drama follows two lovers living far apart and how they cope with distance and the unraveling of their relationship as they realize their joys are overshadowed by difficulties.

"Nights" marks Swanberg's fourth consecutive year debuting a pic at the fest. He and Gerwig have been singled out with a few other young filmmakers whose pics are part of the "mumblecore" genre of inexpensive, low-tech, occasionally improvisational, movies. The pair were at SXSW last year with "Hannah Takes the Stairs," also an IFC pickup.

"Joe's commitment to showcasing the true representation of authentic, improvisational filmmaking is second to none, and Greta has made her mark as one of the most talented actresses out there today," said IFC Entertainment topper Jonathan Sehring.

 Swanberg and Gerwig co-produced with Dia Sokol and Filmscience's Anish Savjani. Lizzie Nastro, director of acquisitions and co-productions for IFC Entertainment, negotiated the purchase of rights to the pic, with Savjani representing the filmmakers.