Sony Pictures Classics has acquired the rights to director Stephanie Ang’s feature debut, Bedford Park, following its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film, starring Moon Chae and Sung Seok, also won the American Drama Special Jury Award in the debut feature category earlier Friday.
The deal marks Sony Pictures Classics’ second major win at the film festival, following Variety’s exclusive release for “Shake Your Ass!”
In a statement announcing the acquisition, the studio praised director Ahn for creating “an engaging drama that exudes the confidence of a master.”
“‘Bedford Park’ gives us a complete world steeped in current cross-cultural history, full of rich personalities and happenings,” the statement continues. “This authentic story of two New Jerseyans is relatable and will resonate anywhere. It’s a great film and we’re thrilled to share it with the world.”
This romantic drama follows Audrey (Choi), a woman who struggles between loyalty to her Korean immigrant family and her own American identity as a child growing up in New Jersey. The film’s logline explains, “Her mother gets into a car accident, which leads to a fateful encounter with Eli (her son), a former wrestler who is grappling with his own broken past.” “They forge a bond through an unexpected relationship that overcomes self-preservation, cultural pressures, and chosen love.” Written and directed by Ahn, the film also stars Won Mi-kyung, Kim Eun-soo, and Jefferson White.
“Bedford Park” is produced by Gary Foster (Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment), Chris S. Lee (B&C Group), Nina Yang Bongiovi (Signific Productions), Teresa Kang (Blue Marble Pictures) and Sung Seok (Stanham). Ras Krasnov will also serve as a producer.
“Sony Pictures Classics is the gold standard for thoughtful, filmmaker-driven distribution, and partnering with them on ‘Bedford Park’ is a dream come true,” the filmmakers added. “With their impeccable taste and legacy of high-quality films that have stood the test of time, we are honored to join their family. SPC truly understands how to cultivate intimate, human stories and help them find audiences around the world. Their belief in our film and their commitment to giving it the right platform means everything to our team.”
Executive producers include Choi, Sungwon Gee, Yun-Julia Kim, Clara Wu Tsai, Agnes Chu, Alex Peace Power, Charles Chung, Christine Chan, Charlie Hine, Annie Yang, Julia Hsu, Raymond Lee, Qi Ching, Nina Fialkow, Hyun Park, Lennox Ho, Oliver Su, Mark Gooder, Alison Thompson, Jinmo Yang, and Caroline Garrity. Amy Lee, Brian Huang, Ali Jazayeri, Viviana Zaragoisia, Stefan Klink.
The deal was negotiated between Sony Pictures Classics and CAA Media Finance in collaboration with Cornerstone Films on behalf of the filmmakers.
The Wrap first reported news of the sale.
