Cannes – May 19, 2010 – The Wagner/Cuban Companies’ Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired US rights to Oscar-winner Alex Gibney’s untitled Eliot Spitzer documentary produced by A&E IndieFilms and Wider Film Projects. A powerful and probing look at the former Governor of New York, the film follows Eliot Spitzer’s career from his days as an attorney general committed to battling Wall Street corruption, to his ignominious fall. The film features revelatory interviews with Spitzer, Wall Street powerbrokers, old enemies from New York’s capitol and escorts from the infamous Emperor’s Club, painting a rich and compelling portrait of corruption, hubris and temptation that plays like a high-stakes political thriller. A work-in-progress version was recently unveiled at the Tribeca Film Festival to much fanfare and critical acclaim.
The film was produced under A&E Network’s feature documentary banner, A&E IndieFilms, and the network will follow the film’s theatrical and home video release with a television broadcast premiere. It marks the fifth collaboration between Gibney and Magnolia, who distributed Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, the recent Casino Jack and the United States of Money, as well as the upcoming Freakonomics omnibus, featuring a segment by Gibney.
“Alex is the most vital documentarian working today, and this film could be his finest hour,†said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “It transcends what could have been a salacious expose in lesser hands to be a truly thrilling, masterful work of cinema.â€
“After an incredible response at Tribeca, we are excited to be partnering with Magnolia Pictures to bring Alex’s brilliant film to audiences around the country,†said Bob DeBitetto, President of A&E Network and BIO Channel.
“Magnolia has the vision and expertise to successfully reach wide audiences with this film—they are ideal partners. We could not be more excited to be working with them,” said Jedd and Todd Wider of Wider Film Projects.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP Tom Quinn with John Sloss and Victoria Cook for Cinetic Media, Molly Thompson, VP of A&E IndieFilms, and Todd and Jedd Wider of Wider Film Projects.