Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions To Distribute Justin Simien’s Dear White People

Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions To Distribute Justin Simien‘s Dear White PeoplePosted by Wilson Morales

March 19, 2014

(Ahead of two sold-out shows at New Directors/New Films this weekend, Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have acquired all U.S. and Canadian rights to Justin Simien’s provocative and timely comedy DEAR WHITE PEOPLE.

Winner of the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Simien’s debut feature is a satirical look at campus life and racial politics at a fictional Ivy League college, and pays homage to such groundbreaking films as Spike Lee’s School Daze and Robert Townsend’s Hollywood Shuffle. In his praise of Simien, the New York Times’ A.O. Scott wrote today, “Seeming to draw equal measures of inspiration from Whit Stillman and Spike Lee, but with his own tart, elegant sensibility very much in control, Mr. Simien evokes familiar campus stereotypes only to smash them and rearrange the pieces.”

DEAR WHITE PEOPLE follows the stories of four black students at Winchester University, where a riot breaks out over a popular ‘African American’ themed party thrown by a white fraternity. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in ‘post-racial’ America while weaving a universal story of forging one’s unique path in the world.

Written and directed by Justin Simien, DEAR WHITE PEOPLE was produced by Effie T. Brown (Duly Noted Inc) and Julia Lebedev (Code Red Productions), executive produced by Stephanie Allain (Homegrown Pictures) and Leonid Lebedev, with Simien, Angel Lopez, Ann Le and Lena Waithe as producers. Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris), Tessa Thompson (Veronica Mars), Teyonah Parris (Mad Men), and Brandon P Bell (Hollywood Heights) lead the ensemble cast of newcomers.

“Justin Simien is a funny, fresh and current voice with his finger on the Millennials’ pulse,” said Cohen. “His crowd-pleasing DEAR WHITE PEOPLE took Sundance by storm, with its sly and extremely topical satire sparking conversations about our supposed ‘post-racial’, 21st century America.” said Roadside’s Cohen.

Producer Julia Lebedev said, “We are thrilled to have found our home at Lionsgate and Roadside. I know they will give the film the attention and support it needs to make a successful launch, ensuring that Justin’s vision has a chance to reach and entertain audiences everywhere.”

“This film was truly a labor of love with everyone on our team giving 110%. We have so few films made by people of color and I couldn’t be prouder to have been a part of bringing Justin’s fresh voice to fruition. And now to partner with Lionsgate and Roadside is an exciting next chapter in what I’m sure will be an amazing life for DEAR WHITE PEOPLE,” said producer Effie Brown.

The deal was negotiated by Marc Danon and Jean Chi on behalf of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, and by WME Global and attorney Irwin M. Rappaport on behalf of the filmmakers.