Sony Pictures Classics makes first Sundance 2012 pickup with 'Sugar Man'

Film looks at forgotten '70s rocker Rodriguez

By Dave Lewis Friday, Jan 20, 2012 4:56 PM

'Searching For Sugar Man'

Credit: Sony Pictures Classics

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Sony Pictures Classics has closed the first big deal of this year's Sundance fest by snatching up the rights in North America to Malik Bendjelloul’s directorial debut, "Searching For Sugar Man" after last night's world premiere.

"Searching For Sugar Man" centers on rediscovered '70s rock icon Rodriguez, who recorded one unsuccessful album and retreated into obscurity and was dogged by rumors of suicide. Somehow, a bootleg recording made its way to apartheid-era South Africa, where the forgotten rocker became a star. In the film, two South African fans set out to find the real Rodriguez.

“Searching For Sugar Man is an incredible story that we can’t wait to share with American audiences. We are thrilled to be distributing this film by talented new director Malik Bendjelloul and to be working again with our good friend producer John Battsek and Simon Chinn” states Sony Pictures Classics in a release.

Adds Producer Simon Chinn, "We are hugely excited that 'Searching For Sugar Man' has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics. Their passion for this film combined with their stellar track record makes them the perfect distributors for it."

Two other Sundance films are thought to be on the verge of acquisition, namely "Red Lights," starring Robert De Niro, Sigourney Weaver and Elizabeth Olsen and "Celeste and Jessie Forever," starring Emma Stone and Elijah Wood.

Dave Lewis
Producer

Dave Lewis has been a Los Angeles-based entertainment writer and editor for nearly ten years. Originally hailing from Minneapolis, he moved to L.A. in 1996 to attend USC, before working for various periodicals and web sites including a lengthy stint at Variety.com. He joined the HitFix staff in 2011.