A24 has won the bidding war for Cannes’ hottest film, snatching up global rights to Jordan Firstman’s Club Kid.
A24 outbid virtually every other major indie and studio distributor, including Focus Features, Searchlight, Netflix, and Mubi to secure the film, a broad but touching family comedy set in the New York club scene.
Firstman wrote and directed Club Kid in his feature debut and stars alongside Cara Delevigne, Diego Calva and newcomer Reggie Absolom. The film premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard section last week to rave reviews and buyers quickly started circling.
Firstman plays a washed-up party promoter who has spent a decade on the dance floors and the darkrooms, just doing the minimum to get by. He is forced to turn his life around when the son he never knew he had — the consequence of a messy threesome 10 years ago — arrives at his doorstep.
Financial details of the deal were not disclosed but the offer is believed to have hit eight figures after studios showed interest and A24 moved to take rights for the whole world. A24 will still have to sell the film on to international buyers outside its network of established international distribution deals, which include the likes of Leonine in Germany and Austria, and Nordisk Film in Scandinavia.
Oscar winner Alex Coco (Anora) and Galen Core (Lurker) produced Club Kid, alongside Topic Studio’s Ryan Heller (A Real Pain, Splitsville) and Michael Bloom. Topic Studios also financed the film with Stay Gold as co-financier. Firstman also serves as an executive producer alongside Ian Stratford, Charles Croft and Jasmine Daghighian for Topic, Olmo Schnabel, and Daniela Taplin for Stay Gold.
UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmaking team. Charades International helped launch the film in Cannes.
Firstman is represented by UTA, Black Bear, The Lede Company and Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz. Delevingne is repped by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dean, while Calva is with WME, Entertainment 360, Lumina Management, Narrative, and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman. Absolom is represented by Mark Jermin Management, and Isgandarov by Elevate Entertainment and Bloch Law. Coco is represented by Dissident, CAA and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Feldman, Rogal, Shikora & Clark. Core is represented by UTA.
