MAGNOLIA PICTURES ACQUIRES NORTH AMERICAN RIGHTS TO “STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE”
World Premiere at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival
The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired North American rights to STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE, a new documentary directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. A CNN Films and Jigsaw production, STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE had its world premiere at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival.
“I am delighted to partner with Magnolia on this film,” said director Alex Gibney. “Given our long history together, I look forward to premiering THE MAN IN THE MACHINE to audiences looking for a greater understanding of the celebrated tech icon.”
In STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE, Gibney presents a critical examination of Jobs, revered both as an iconoclastic genius and denounced as a barbed-tongued tyrant. The film is a candid telling of the Apple legend through interviews with a handful of those close to Jobs at different stages in his life. The film is an evocative portrait of his legacy, and our relationship with the computer. It unravels the larger than life myth he so deliberately crafted, and examines the endurance of his values which continue to shape the culture of Silicon Valley to this day.
“Once again Alex Gibney takes on an iconic figure and masterfully reveals the complexities and motivations behind the Steve Jobs facade that has inspired the world,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles.
Magnolia Pictures has acquired the theatrical, VOD and home entertainment rights and CNN Films has the television broadcast distribution rights.
“Alex Gibney paints an honest portrait of one of the most revered and complex men in history allowing us a provocative look at the visionary life of Steve Jobs,” said CNN Films’ Vinnie Malhotra. “We are thrilled to partner with Magnolia Pictures again and look forward to sharing Alex’s extraordinary film with audiences, across all platforms.”
STEVE JOBS: THE MAN IN THE MACHINE was produced by Viva Van Loock and Alex Gibney. It was executive produced for CNN Films by Vinnie Malhotra and Amy Entelis, and for Jigsaw by Stacey Offman and Gaby Darbyshire. This is the seventh film directed by Gibney to be distributed by Magnolia.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions Dori Begley with Josh Braun of Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers.
About MAGNOLIA PICTURES
Magnolia Pictures is the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Companies, a vertically-integrated group of media properties co-owned by Todd Wagner and Mark Cuban that also includes the Landmark Theatres chain and AXS TV. Recent releases include Swedish Oscar selection and Golden Globe nominee FORCE MAJEURE, acclaimed documentary LIFE ITSELF, verite ballet doc BALLET 422, Susanne Bier’s SERENA starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, and music doc THE WRECKING CREW. Upcoming releases include Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner THE WOLFPACK, Buckley vs. Vidal doc BEST OF ENEMIES from Morgan Neville and Robert Gordon, Sean Baker’s acclaimed TANGERINE, Albert Maysles’ Iris Apfel doc IRIS, Andrew Bujalski’s RESULTS, Roy Andersson’s A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE, thrilling documentary SUNSHINE SUPERMAN, Australian Sex comedy THE LITTLE DEATH and many more.
About CNN FILMS and CNN WORLDWIDE
CNN Films brings documentaries beyond the small screen by developing strategic partnerships to leverage distribution opportunities at film festivals and in theaters, acquiring and commissioning films for broadcast on CNN, and providing finishing funds for collaborative film productions. Amy Entelis, senior vice president of talent and content development for CNN Worldwide, and Vinnie Malhotra, senior vice president of development and acquisitions for CNN Worldwide, oversee the strategy for documentaries for CNN Films. Malhotra manages the day-to-day operation of CNN Films, and works directly with filmmakers to develop original projects. For more information about CNN Films, please visit http://www.cnn.com/cnnfilms.
CNN Worldwide is a portfolio of two dozen news and information services across cable, satellite, radio, wireless devices and the Internet in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Domestically, CNN reaches more individuals on television, the web and mobile devices than any other cable TV news organization in the United States; internationally, CNN is the most widely distributed news channel reaching more than 271 million households abroad; and CNN Digital is a top network for online news, mobile news and social media. Additionally, CNN Newsource is the world’s most extensively utilized news service partnering with hundreds of local and international news organizations around the world. CNN is a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company.
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