Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to “Boom for Real: the Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat,” a documentary about the late American artist that premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
The film focuses on the artist’s life in New York City during the late 1970s, and how that city influenced his work. It includes writings, art and photographs never seen before.
Sara Driver directed the film, which she produced alongside Rachel Dengiz. The movie is a production of Hells Kitten Productions, Faliro House, Le Pacte, Leopardo Filmes and Bunny Lake Films. Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Jean Labadie and Paulo Branco are executive producers.
Magnolia co-EVP Dori Begley and SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden negotiated the deal, with ICM Partners representing the filmmakers.
“Sara has crafted an essential portrait of a boundary-pushing artist at the peak of his creativity,” Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles said in a statement. “This is a wildly entertaining film that gets all the details right.”
“I have always admired Magnolia’s film selections and their attention to their releases over the years,” Driver said in the statement. “And now, I am honored and delighted to have our film with such a caring and wonderful company of true cinephiles.”