The high price tag for Jordan Firstman’s Cannes directorial debut “Club Kid” carried over into the sales market, with the director’s debut film sparking a bidding war.
After glowing reviews for First Man’s Friday premiere in the festival’s Un Certain Regard section, several prominent distributors have signed up for the drama. The show has won praise for balancing a hedonistic depiction of queer life in New York City with a heartwarming tale of an unlikely father and son.
Mubi, Focus features, Searchlight Pictures, A24 and Netflix are likely candidates, multiple sources told Variety. Three people familiar with the matter said offers were coming in in the low seven figures, and a deal could end up in the eight figures. UTA is responsible for sales with international support from Charades.
Warner Bros.’ new indie label Clockwork, led by Christian Parks, was working on the title, but has since abandoned it, two people familiar with the matter said. Teddy Schwartzman’s Black Bear is also said to be interested, and offers from other companies are expected as the Cannes Film Festival reaches its halfway point this weekend.
The filmmakers have not commented at this time. The process could take several days given the level of interest, but First Man’s triumphant debut marks the first frenzied negotiation in this year’s quiet market (many titles were brought to Cannes with distribution, including Neon’s nine films in the official selection).
Firstman took a major creative leap forward with “Club Kid,” which he wrote and directed. His feature follows a Manhattan club promoter who stays at parties too long for about a decade. When a 10-year-old boy shows up at his door, the son he never knew was his father, First Man’s protagonist must confront his ketamine-soaked Peter Pan syndrome and decide on the shape of two futures.
The film was produced by producer and financier Topic Studios. Oscar winner Alex Coco (Anora), Michael Bloom, Galen Corr, and Ryan Heller will serve as producers.
“Come for the arch, wicked humor that the title and the director’s general social media brand promise. Come for the unabashed sweetness of this undertaking. Come away with a clear sense that there’s more to First Man than its online persona,” wrote Variety’s Guy Lodge in his Cannes review.
Firstman is repped by UTA, Black Bear and The Lede Company. His credits include the just-renewed HBO original series “I Love LA” and “Rotting in the Sun.”
