IFC Films is acquiring U.S. rights to Kelly Reichardt‘s Montana-set drama “Certain Women,” which stars Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern, the company announced Wednesday.
Written and directed by Reichardt, the film debuted at Sundance and will be released later this year.
James Le Gros, Jared Harris, René Auberjonois and breakout talent Lily Gladstone co-star in “Certain Women,” which is based on the short stories of Maile Meloy.
Neil Kopp, Vincent Savino and Anish Savjani of filmscience produced the film, which was executive produced by Todd Haynes and Larry Fessenden. Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions’ Stage 6 Films acquired worldwide rights to “Certain Women” prior to the start of production and will distribute the film internationally.
In “Certain Women,” the lives of a lawyer, a ranch hand and a married couple intersect across the state of Montana, where the men are struggling to get their lives right in the face of aging, injury, bad luck and wrong moves — and the women are imperfectly blazing a trail. Laura (Dern) is sent in to calm her client Fuller (Harris) during a hostage situation. A quasi-land grab is orchestrated by Gina (Williams), whose husband Ryan (Le Gros) reluctantly goes along with it. A ranch hand (Gladstone) is left to long for Elizabeth (Stewart), who passes through town while she stays at the ranch and tends to her chores.
“The entire team at IFC Films have long been fans of Kelly and are thrilled to finally be working with her — she is a master at her craft and one of the most distinct storytellers working in cinema today,” said Jonathan Sehring, president of Sundance Selects/IFC Films. “Along with her amazing cast of Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Lily Gladstone and Michelle Williams, Kelly has created another treasure that confirms her as one of our great American filmmakers. We can’t wait to bring it to the theaters for audiences to see.”
The deal was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, SVP of acquisitions from Sundance Selects/IFC Films, with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.