A press release was sent out by Fox Searchlight on Friday that they had acquired the North American distribution rights to John Carney's Irish musical Once, starring musical collaborators Glen Hansard of The Frames and Marteka Irgolva from Czechoslovakia. The film has been the talk of the Sundance Film Festival, having won the Audience Award in the World Dramatic competition.
ComingSoon.net conducted interviews with director John Carney and singer/lead actor Glen Hansard at the Sundance Film Festival, which can be read here. The full press release can be read by clicking on the link below.
LOS ANGELES, CA February 2, 2007 – Fox Searchlight Pictures Chief Operating Officer Nancy Utley announced today that the company has acquired from Summit Entertainment the Northern American rights to the Irish musical ONCE, the sleeper hit which took the World Cinema Audience Award at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Written and directed by John Carney, ONCE stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The film is produced by Martina Niland and executive produced by David Collins. The film is scheduled to be released in 2007. Summit Entertainment is handling international sales and distribution.
Said Fox Searchlight Pictures COO Nancy Utley, “‘Once’ swept the entire Searchlight team off its feet. From acquisitions to production to marketing, distribution and music, we passionately wanted to be part of ‘Once’. The film is so beautiful and haunting, it’s unforgettable. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
“On behalf of filmmakers and Summit, we are absolutely thrilled by Fox Searchlight’s love and passion for this movie,” said Patrick Wachsberger, Summit’s President and CEO, “we think this unique film has found the perfect home.”
ONCE is a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin. Featuring Glen Hansard and his Irish band "The Frames," the film tells the story of a street musician and a Czech immigrant during an eventful week as they write, rehearse and record songs that reveal their unique love story.
The deal was brokered on Fox Searchlight’s side by Senior Vice President of Acquisitions Tony Safford and Executive Vice President of Business Affairs Stephen Plum with Patrick Wachsberger, CEO and President of Summit Entertainment along with Andrew Matosich, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Summit.
ONCE was produced and financed by Samson with assistance from the Irish Film Board and Ireland pub caster RTE.
John Carney was born in Dublin in 1972. He began his film career directing videos for the Irish band the Frames, as well as writing, producing, and directing two award-winning short films, SHINING STAR and HOTEL. He followed with the features NOVEMBER AFTERNOON, JUST IN TIME, and ON THE EDGE. Carney then co-wrote and directed three episodes of the hit Radio Telefís Éireann television series Bachelors Walk, one of the most successful independently produced dramas in the history of Irish television.
