As reported in Variety, The Cove, the Sundance Audience Award-winner from Louie Psihoyas, will hit theaters in the US this summer, courtesy of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions; The doc, a thriller/adventure story of sorts, follows filmmaker Psihoyas, dolphin trainer/activist Richard O'Barry and a band of enterprising seafarers as they aim to expose the capture and slaughter of dolphins in a cove off the coast of Japan. Participant Media has also signed on to develop an outreach/awareness campaign, focused on the issues raised in the film. UK-based Works International and Quickfire Films Fund acquired all other territories.
Oscilloscope Laboratories acquired US theatrical distribution rights to another Sundance Award-winner, Anders Østergaard's Burma VJ, which comes to theaters this spring, followed by a DVD release in 2010. Dogwoolf will handle theatrical and DVD distribution of the film in the UK. The film, which documents an intrepid group of Burmese journalists who use tiny cameras and cell phones to document the 2007 crackdown in their country, will also air on HBO. Burma VJ won a documentary editing award at Sundance, as well as two prizes at IDFA.
As reported in indieWIRE, Theater of War, John Walter's behind-the-scenes look at playwright Tony Kushner's adaptation and production of Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage, was acquired by Alive Mind, the documentary distribution arm of Lorber HT Digital. Alive Mind will handle theatrical and DVD distribution rights in North America, with bookings at such specialty venues as the Coolidge in Boston, the Walker in Minneapolis, the Wexner Center in Columbus, Ohio, slated for April and May.