Kristen Stewart starring Welcome to the Rileys has been acquired for United States film distribution by Bob Berney’s Apparition with the Sony Worldwide Acquisitions Group. Welcome to the Rileys was represented during negotiations by UTA Independent Film Group.
Apparition is eyeing a fall distribution slot. I’m told the deal was 7 figures with a P&A commitment.
This acquisition was precipitated by a grassroots mail, text, and twitter Twihards (Welcome2Rileys) campaign
to distribution executives, urging them to make a deal and get the film into theaters.
This bombardment on those circling Welcome to the Rileys for acquisition had the desired effect. How the intrepid Twihards acquired the personal emails for Sundance buyers, including Sony Pictures Classics’ Michael Barker, is another matter.
The e-mail addresses for The Weinstein Co. and Sony Pictures Classics representatives were [also] made available at the Welcome to the Rileys IMDb forum.
I’m guessing it took some digging on their part through Google and other sources. There is no word yet on when the film will be released theatrically but a limited release is most likely.
Source: Deadline, AltFilmGuide