Katie Chevigny’s narrative feature debut, The Easy Kind, has been acquired by Persimmon Pictures, and the Oscar nominee will begin theatrical screenings at IFC Center starting June 3, ahead of wider rollout and digital release in August.
The film stars rebellious country singer Elizabeth Cook as her fictional version of herself, about an artist navigating middle age while battling an industry that never fully accepts her. Cooke also contributed an original song, “The Easy Kind,” which will be selected for Best Original Song at next year’s Academy Awards.
After its premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, the film was acquired by Persimmon in a deal negotiated on behalf of the distributor by Mackenzie Maguire and Ryan Kampe of Visit Films. Select screenings during the New York run will include Q&As with special guests.
Chevigny, an Emmy Award-winning documentarian, said he was inspired by Cooke’s performance in 2016 during a residency in Nashville. As per the official synopsis, the film sees Cooke “breaking new ground musically, even when those in power can’t figure out how to monetize her hard-earned talent. Free from the traps that held her back, including financial troubles, a family tragedy, and an ex-lover, she builds herself on a path to making music on her own terms.”
The supporting cast includes Susie Essman, David Letterman, Karen Allen, Charles Esten, Melissa Jackson, and Katherine Curtin.
“The Easy Kind” marks Chevigny’s first narrative feature after a prolific documentary career that included Emmy-winning work on A24 and Apple TV+’s “Home.”
