{"id":62462,"date":"2012-01-27T22:33:29","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T22:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/01\/27\/ava-duvernay-middle-of-nowhere-theater-distribution\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T13:33:31","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T13:33:31","slug":"ava-duvernay-middle-of-nowhere-theater-distribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/ava-duvernay-middle-of-nowhere-theater-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere Picked Up For Distribution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ava DuVernay’s Middle of Nowhere Picked Up For Distribution<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

January 27 2012<\/p>\n

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While the 2012 Sundance Film Festival<\/strong> <\/a>is starting to wind down with films either picked being up for distribution or still seeking one, Ava DuVernay<\/strong>‘s second feature film, ‘Middle of Nowhere,’ <\/strong>which premiered there, can make fans happy as it leaves the festival with a deal in place.<\/p>\n

Here are the details below<\/p>\n

Participant Media <\/strong>and AFFRM <\/strong>(African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement) have jointly acquired U.S. theatrical rights to MIDDLE OF NOWHERE<\/strong>, an elegant and emotional drama chronicling a woman\u2019s separation from her incarcerated husband and her journey to maintain her marriage and her identity. Written and directed by AFFRM founder Ava DuVernay, the film was produced by DuVernay and Howard Barish<\/strong> with producer Paul Garnes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Staring into the hollow end of her husband Derek\u2019s eight-year prison sentence, Ruby Sexton fights to support him on the inside and survive her own identity crisis on the outside. Through a chance encounter and a stunning betrayal that shakes her to the core, Ruby is propelled in new and, often frightening, directions of self-discovery.<\/p>\n

AFFRM will distribute the film theatrically later this year, activating marketing and promotional support through its broad grassroots collective powered by the nation\u2019s top black film organizations. AFFRM\u2019s inaugural feature through this innovative model was the critically-acclaimed drama, \u201cI Will Follow,\u201d <\/strong>released in March 2011. In December 2011, AFFRM distributed last year\u2019s Sundance World Cinema Drama Audience Award winner, \u201cKinyarwanda.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong>\u201cAs a filmmaker and film distributor, I embarked on the Sundance journey with a best case distribution scenario in mind, and this partnership with Participant is exactly that,\u201d stated DuVernay. \u201cFor AFFRM and Participant to combine forces on this film is a bold, ground-breaking move for two companies dedicated to connecting and empowering audiences of every hue through cinema.\u201d<\/p>\n

Said Jonathan King<\/strong>, Participant Media\u2019s Executive Vice President of Production, \u201cMiddle of Nowhere is only Ava DuVernay\u2019s second feature, but it reflects the finesse and sensitivity of a far more experienced storyteller and the kind of quality filmmaking that\u2019s been a hallmark of Participant. We\u2019re very excited to be joining forces with her and her team at AFFRM, and look forward to developing a marketing and Social Action campaign that illuminates the film\u2019s themes and engages communities around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The deal was negotiated by Ben Weiss<\/strong> of the Paradigm Motion Picture Group with Nina Shaw<\/strong> and Gordon Bobb<\/strong> of Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano, on behalf of AFFRM, with Jeff Ivers of Participant.<\/p>\n

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