WARRIOR POETS, TOPIC and IMPACT PARTNERS PRESENTS NO MAN’S LAND WORLD PREMIERE – DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION Directed by David Byars Director of Photography David Byars Produced by David Byars, Morgan Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, David Holbrooke, David Osit, Rachel Traub, Stash Wislocki Executive Produced by Thom Beers, Michael Bloom, Dan Cogan, Adam Pincus Edited by David Osit Music by LOW Running Time: 80 Minutes https://www.nomanslandthefilm.com/ Social Media: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/No-Mans-Land-1918408308445791/ For additional information please contact: Marian Koltai-Levine – [email protected]– 212-373-6130 | Omar Gonzales – [email protected]– 212-373-0116 Leigh Wolfson – [email protected]– 212-373-6149 | Savannah Freed – [email protected]– 212-373-6106 SALES AGENT – SUBMARINE Josh Braun – [email protected]| Ben Schwartz – [email protected]– 212-625-1410
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WARRIOR POETS, TOPIC and IMPACT PARTNERS … by David Byars, Morgan Spurlock, Jeremy Chilnick, David Holbrooke, David Osit, Rachel Traub, Stash Wislocki Executive Produced by Thom
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Withunfetteredaccess,DirectorandDirectorofPhotographyDavidByarsgivesadetailed,on-the-groundaccountofthe2016standoffbetweenprotestorsoccupyingOregon’sMalheurNationalWildlifeRefugeandfederalauthorities.Aftertheleadersofthisoccupationputoutacalltoarmsviasocialmedia,theMalheur occupiers quickly bolstered their numbers with a stew of right-wingmilitia, protestors, andonlookers.Whatbeganasaprotesttocondemnthesentencingoftworanchersquicklymorphedintoacatchallforthoseeagertoregistertheirmilitantantipathytowardthefederalgovernment.Duringthe41-daysiege,thefilmmakersweregrantedremarkableaccesstotheinnerworkingsoftheinsurrectionastheoccupierswentaboutthedailybusinessofengaginginanarmedoccupation.NOMAN’SLANDdocumentstheoccupationfrominceptiontoitsdramaticdemiseandtellsthestoryofthoseontheinsideofthismovement-theideologues,thedisenfranchised,andthedangerouslyquixotic,attemptingtouncoverwhatdrawsAmericanstotheedgeofrevolution.
LONGSYNOPSISIn January of 2016, protestors gathered in Burns,Oregon to denounce the federal sentencing of tworanchers.During theprotest, a group ledbyAmmonBundybrokeoff and tookover nearbyMalheurWildlifeRefuge.Theoccupationquicklyattractedastewofright-wingmilitiaandprotestors.Whatbeganasaprotesttocondemnthesentencingmorphedintoacatchallforthoseeagertoregistertheirmilitantantipathytowardthefederalgovernment.TheMalheur occupation drew the national spotlight, attractingmedia fascinated by the spectacle ofcowboysandmilitiarebellingagainstthefederalgovernment.ThesiegealsoattractedtheattentionoftheFBI,whosetupacommandcenternearbytocountertheoccupiers.Duringthe41-daysiege,thedirectorandcinematographerDavidByarswasgrantedremarkableaccesstotheinnerworkingsoftheinsurrectionasthemilitantswentaboutthedailybusinessofrunninganarmedoccupation.EventsatMalheurtookabloodyturnwhenfederalagentswaylaidtheleadersoftheoccupationenrouteto a community meeting. A car chase ensued that resulted in the arrests of the entire insurgencyleadershipandthedramaticon-camerashootingdeathofLaVoyFinicum,thesemi-officialspokesmanforthegroup.NOMAN’SLANDdocumentstheoccupationfrominceptiontodemiseandtellsthestoryofthoseontheinsideofthismovement,attemptingtouncoverwhatdrawsAmericanstotheedgeofrevolution.
DIRECTOR’SSTATEMENTInAprilof2014,ClivenBundy,his family,andhis followers famouslyandsuccessfully rebuked federalagentsatgunpointwhowereattemptingtoconfiscatetheBundy’scattleoverunpaidfederalgrazingfees.Iwasimmediatelyfascinatedwiththeimageryofthisstandoffandtheintensityandcertitudeofthoseinvolved.ItwascleartomethatthiswaslessaboutgrazingallotmentsthanaboutcompetingvisionsforwhatAmericashouldbe.WhenIlearnedthattheBundy’sweretakingtheirvictoryontheroadtosupportafederallandsprotestinRecaptureCanyon(amerethreehourdrivefrommyhomeinColorado),Ijumpedattheopportunitytoattendanddocumentthisevent.At Recapture Canyon, I firstmet Ryan Bundy and became familiar with the personalities behind thismovement. Itwas at this point that I set out tomakea film that explores the intractabledivide thatcharacterizesournationaldiscourseviathemicrocosmofthefederallandsacrimony.Ayearandahalfpassed,duringwhichIwasresearchingthismovementandreachingouttothosewithinit.WhenAmmonBundy(ClivenBundy’sson)andhisfollowerstookovertheMalheurNationalWildlifeRefugeinOregoninJanuaryof2016,IimmediatelyflewtoBurnsandbeganfilming.Myexperiencetherewasthat,whiletherewerefolkstherethatwerewellversedinranchingissues,thiswasaboutmuchmorethangrazingallotments.Theprotestors (armedandunarmed) Imet therehadavague,butprofoundsensethattheAmericatheyheldintheirmindswasinperil.When I first conceived of this film, many folks assumed that NOMAN'S LAND would be a hit piecelampooningthearmed-protestors.But,havinggrowingupinthesemi-ruralSouth,Iknowthesepeople.Igrewupsurroundedbymistrustofwhattheycalltheliberalelite.Ialsoknowthattheirmistrustisnotaltogethermisplaced.Inmylifetime,I'veseentheleft/rightparadigmgrowfromastrained,yetrespectfuldiscourse,toagapingdividenevertobecrossed.And,whileIdisagreewiththeMalheurprotestorsonmany fronts, Iwould notmake a film that off-handedly discounts their grievances or paints them assimpletons.InAmerica,wecraveabsolutes.Weliketoclearlydelineateideologyinblackandwhite,evenifthatisseldomthecase,anddemonizethosewhoholdviewpointsthatdifferfromourown.Buttodisavowanynuanceorcomplexitywouldbetodenyourselvesanopportunitytounderstandthosewhohavebecomedangerouslymarginalized.Untilweasacountrymakesanefforttobridgethedividethatcharacterizesournationaldiscourse,acrimoniouselementswillrulethedayandcompassionandcivilitywillbeviewedwithsuspicion.Withoutnuancedandempatheticdiscussions,ourcountrywillsuffertheconsequencestothedetrimentofallAmericans.
- DavidGarrettByars
ABOUTTHEFILMMAKERSDAVIDGARRETTBYARS(Director,DirectorofPhotography,Producer)DavidGarrettByarswillmakehisdirectorialdebutatthe2017TribecaFilmFestivalwithNOMAN’SLAND,a documentary about the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that sparkedinternationalheadlines.ByarsisalsocurrentlyworkingwithReelThing’sSuzanBerazaasaproduceranddirectorofphotographyonherupcomingfilmMASSACRERIVER.HejoinedReelThingProductionsin2009,workingasaneditor,cameraman,andsoundtechnicianonURANIUMDRIVE-IN.Byarsadditionalworkincludesdirectingtwoshortfilms,SELFSTORAGE,anarrativeshortaboutexistentialdread and redemption, and RECAPTURE, a short documentary chronicling the attempt of right-wingactiviststoreclaimthefederally-managedRecaptureCanyoninsouthernUtah.MORGANSPURLOCK(Producer)Morgan Spurlock is an award-winning and Academy Award-nominatedwriter, director, producer andFounder&CEOoffull-serviceNewYork-basedproductionstudioWarriorPoets.Hisfirstfilm,SUPERSIZEME,premieredattheSundanceFilmFestivalin2004,winningBestDirectinghonors,aswellasgarneranAcademyAwardnominationforBestFeatureDocumentary.Sincethenhehasdirected,producedanddistributedmultiplefilm,televisionanddigitalprojects,includingthecriticallyacclaimedCNNtelevisionseries“MorganSpurlockInsideMan”,theFXseries“30Days”,thefilmsWHEREINTHEWORLDISOSAMABINLADEN?,WGAandEmmynominatedTHESIMPSONS20THANNIVERSARYSPECIAL:IN3-D!ONICE!,FREAKONOMICS,POMWONDERFULPRESENTS:THEGREATESTMOVIEEVERSOLD,andmost recently,RATSandTHEEAGLEHUNTRESS.JEREMYCHILNICK(Producer)JeremyChilnick isanEmmy-nominatedwriterandproducer.HeiscurrentlyPartner&COOatMorganSpurlock’s New York based production company Warrior Poets, where he oversees all aspects ofproductionforfilm,televisionanddigitalcontent.Sinceco-foundingWarriorPoets,Chilnickhaswrittenand/or produced multiple films, and television series, and digital projects, including the criticallyacclaimedandIDAAward-winningCNNtelevisionseries“MorganSpurlockInsideMan”,Showtime’s“7Deadly Sins”, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS OSAMA BIN LADEN?, the Emmy and WGA nominated “TheSimpsons20thAnniversarySpecial:In3-D!OnIce!”,FREAKONOMICS,POMWONDERFULPRESENTS:THEGREATESTMOVIEEVERSOLD,COMIC-CON:EPISODEIV–AFAN’SHOPE,MANSOME,andONEDIRECTION:THISISUS.HismostrecentcreditsincludeTHEPISTOLSHRIMPS,VLOGUMENTARY,RATSandTHEEAGLEHUNTRESS.DAVIDHOLBROOKE(Producer)DavidHolbrookeistheFestivalDirectorofTellurideMountainfilm,afilm/ideas/artfestivalthattakesplaceeveryMemorialDayweekend.HeisalsothedirectorofTHEDIPLOMAT,adocumentaryabouthisfather,AmbassadorRichardHolbrooke.ThefilmairedonHBOandwasvotedoneoftheTopFiveDocumentariesof2015by theprestigiousNationalBoardofReview.HolbrookeappearedonCharlieRose,All ThingsConsideredandTheDailyShowtopromotethefilm.HislatestfilmisNOMAN’SLAND,whichheproducedandwillpremiereatTribecaFilmFestivalin2017.Holbrookespentmorethanadecadeproducingtelevisionnews,workingatCNBC,TheTodayShow,CBSNewsandCNN.Heleftthatworldtogoworkforadotcomthathadagreatideabutterribleexecutionanditimploded.After9/11,hestartedmakingdocumentariesthattouredfestivalsallovertheworldandairedonHBO.
In2007,Holbrooke'sstartedprogrammingTellurideMountainfilm,andinthatdecade,thefestivalhasgrownintoaleading-edgegatheringofartistsandactivists,scientistsandseekers,thinkersandmostofall,doers.Mountainfilmthrivesattheintersectionofadventureandideasandisatitsbest,whenitisacombinationoffilmfestival,TEDandBurningMan.Thisyear'sfestivalthemeisTheNewNormal,whichwilllookcloselyatclimatechange,andalsobeagrass-roots,community-wideefforttobringtheTellurideregiontowardscarbonneutrality.It'sachallengebutTelluridehasbeenaplaceofinnovationbeforeasL.L.Nunn inventedalternatingcurrentthere.Now, it'sbetterknownasaski townbutthat innovativespiritstillrunsthroughit,whichiswhyHolbrookelivestherewithhiswife,threekids,twodogsandabunchofbikes.DAVIDOSIT(Editor,Producer)DAVIDOSITisadocumentaryfilmdirector,editorandcomposer.Davidco-directed/produced/editedtheaward-winningdocumentaryTHANKYOUFORPLAYING,whichpremieredatthe2015TribecaFilmFestivalandbroadcastonPOVinthefallof2016.HealsoeditedandproducedOFFFRAME,whichpremieredattheTorontoInternationalFilmFestival in2016,andeditedLIVEFROMNEWYORK!,theOpeningNightFilmofthe2015TribecaFilmFestival,whichbroadcastintheUnitedStatesonNBC.David’sfirstfeaturedocumentary,BUILDINGBABEL,whichhedirected,shot,editedandcomposed,premieredatTrue/Falsein2012andbroadcastastheseriespremiereofPBS’sAmericaReframedin2013.DavidstudiedRefugeeLawattheAmericanUniversityofCairo,andreceivedhisMFAinSocialDocumentaryFilmfromtheSchoolofVisualArtsinNewYork.RACHELTRAUB(Producer)RachelTraubistheFilmCreativeExecutiveatWarriorPoetswheresheoverseesfilmdevelopmentandco-productions,includingPISTOLSHRIMPSwhichpremieredatTribecaFilmFestivallastyear.PriortohertimeatWarriorPoets,TraubpreviouslyworkedinacquisitionsatWildBunch'sNewYorkoffice.STASHWISLOCKI(Producer)Forover20years,StashWislockihasworkedondocumentaries,independentfilmsandnetworknews.Severalfeatureandshortfilmshedirected,playedatfilmfestivalsaroundtheworld.Stashhasworkedfor HBO, Felt SoulMedia, Reel Thing Productions, NBC, CBS,MSNBC, ABC, Discovery, Patagonia, andApple.HeistheproducerofNOMAN’SLAND,adocumentarypremieringattheTribecaFilmFestivalin2017.Apartfromhisownfilmwork,StashhasbeentheproducerofTellurideMountainfilmforthepast15yearsand his other festival credits include Sundance,Maui Film Festival, Dominican Republic Film Festival,TellurideFilmFestivalandFilmAidFilmFestivalinKakumaRefugeeCampinNorthernKenya.THOMBEERS(ExecutiveProducer)ThomBeersisa3timeEmmyaward-winningtelevisionproducer,industryveteranandcreativevisionary.HehasanimpressiveresumeofhittelevisionseriesandBeerswasChiefExecutiveOfficerandExecutiveProducerofOriginalProductions.He isthedrivingforcebehindthePrimetimeEmmy®andProducer’sGuild of America Award-winning “Deadliest Catch”. His top rated signature series included “Ice RoadTruckers”,“AxMen”,“MonsterGarage”,“BlackGold”,“StorageWars”,“1000WaystoDie”and“Coal”.Consequently,OriginalProductionshascatalogedmorethanfortytelevisionseriesacrosscabledynamossuchas,HISTORY,Discovery,SpikeTV,TheNationalGeographicChannel,truTVandA&E.MICHAELBLOOM(ExecutiveProducer)Michael Bloom is President, First LookMedia, a bold independentmedia company launched by eBayfounderandphilanthropist,PierreOmidyarthatempowersthemostambitious, independentvoices in
journalism,artandentertainment.Thecompany isbuiltonthebelief that freedomofexpressionandindependentperspectivesarevitaltoahealthydemocracyandavibrantculture.FirstLookincludesthenewstorytellingbrandandentertainmentstudio,Topic;theinvestigativejournalismoutletTheIntercept;thedocumentaryunitFIELDOFVISION;andthecriticallyacclaimedpoliticalcartoon,THENIB.FirstLookMedia’sfirstfeaturefilm,SPOTLIGHT,wasthe2016AcademyAward®winningBestPicture.Bloom’sbackground is as amediaand technologyentrepreneurandexecutivewhohasbuilt and runstartups aswell as divisions of globalmedia and internet companies. In 1995 he co-founded his firstcompany,Stockpoint.com,apioneeringonlinefinancecompany.In1999BloomservedasPresidentofiAmaze,anearlycloudcompanyhebuiltfromlaunchthroughitsacquisitionbyAOL.HethenservedasVP&GM,AOLProductswhereheledseveraldivisions,includingAOLMusic&Media.From2004-2009BloomwasatMTVNetworks,ultimatelyasSVP&GM,DigitalMedia,wherehebuiltandledthecompany'sdigitalmusicbusiness.PriortoFirstLookMedia,BloomwasCEO,GuardianNews&Media,NorthAmericawherehebuiltthebusinessfromastartupintoatopdigitalbrand.DANCOGAN(ExecutiveProducer)DanCoganistheExecutiveDirectorandCo-FounderofImpactPartners,afundandadvisoryserviceforinvestorsandphilanthropistswhoseektopromotesocialchangethroughfilm.Sinceitsinceptionin2007,ImpactPartnershasfinancedmorethan80films,includingOttoBell’sEAGLEHUNTRESS,whichpremieredatthe2016SundanceFilmFestivalandwillbedistributedbySonyPicturesClassicsinOctober2016;THECOVE,whichwontheAcademyAward®forDocumentaryFeature;HOWTOSURVIVEAPLAGUE,whichwasnominatedfortheAcademyAward®forDocumentaryFeature;THEHUNTINGGROUND;THEQUEENOFVERSAILLES,whichwontheU.S.DirectingAwardatthe2012SundanceFilmFestivalandHELLANDBACKAGAIN,whichwon theDocumentaryGrand JuryPrizeandCinematographyAwardsat the2011SundanceFilmFestivalandwasnominatedfortheAcademyAward®forDocumentaryFeature.Coganco-foundedGamechangerFilms,which launched inSeptember2013.GamechangerFilms is thefirst for-profit film fund dedicated exclusively to financing narrative features directed by women.Gamechanger'sfirstfilm,LANDHO!,premieredatthe2014SundanceFilmFestivalandwasacquiredbySonyPicturesClassics.Gamechanger’sfilmshavepremieredorscreenedatfestivalssuchasSundance,SXSW,Tribeca,LosAngeles,Locarno,Toronto,andLondon;havebeennamedon"bestoftheyear"lists;andwonnumerousawardsincludingaFilmIndependentSpiritAward.CoganreceivedhisB.A.fromHarvardUniversity,MagnaCumLaude,andattendedtheFilmDivisionatColumbiaUniversity'sGraduateSchooloftheArts.In2014,hewasawardedtheLeadingLightAwardatDOCNYCalongsidefilmmakersAlbertMayslesandD.A.Pennebaker,aswellastheAmericaAbroadMediaAwardinWashington,D.C.ADAMPINCUS(ExecutiveProducer)AdamPincusisanaward-winningcreativeexecutivewithadiversebackgroundthatincludestelevisionprogrammingandproduction,thecreationofdigitalcontentandplatforms,andbrandedentertainmentfortelevision,digitalandsocialmedia.Throughouthiscareerhehashelpedestablishandruncontent-drivenbusinessesandteams,bothwithinlargecompaniesandasanindependent.PincusiscurrentlyExecutiveVicePresident,Programming&ContentforFirstLookMedia.Foundedasaboldandindependentmediacompanyin2013byeBayfounderandphilanthropistPierreOmidyar,FirstLookMediaishometoTopic,anewstorytellingbrandandentertainmentstudiodevelopingprogrammingforfilm,televisionanddigital;THEINTERCEPT,theadversarialandindependentjournalismsite;FIELDOFVISION,thefilm-makerdrivendocumentaryunit;andthecriticallyacclaimedpoliticalcartoonTHENIB.FirstLookMediaco-financedthe2016AcademyAward®winningBestPicturefilm,SPOTLIGHT.Prior to First Look, Pincus was Executive Vice President, Programming & Production at GroupMEntertainment,whereheoversawprogrammingstrategy,development,andproductionforGME’sNorth
American investments in television and digital content, including television series for NBC, Canadianbroadcasters CBC, Rogers, and ShawMedia, digital series for Hulu, Spin Media and others, and hasdeveloped digital projects with WPP investments VICE and Fullscreen. Programming spanned thespectrumfromscripteddramasandcomedytodocumentaryandfactualentertainment.InhisrolewithGME,Pincusleadsboththecreativeandbusinessaspects,alongwiththedevelopmentofnewfinancingmodels.Pincus began his career at Viacom in theNewMedia, Interactive TV and Interactive Services groups,creating content and platforms for Nickelodeon, Paramount, MacMillan, Nick at Nite and SundanceChannel.HeproducedtheWebsitefortheSundanceFilmFestival,collaboratingwithfilmmakers,filmwritersandcritics to createadailypublication involving then-newdigitalexperiences likepodcasting,QTVRgalleries,andblogsanddailynewsfromthe10-dayevent.PincuswasrecruitedfromViacomtoSundanceChanneltorunon-airpromotion,networkbrandinganddesign,aswellasthenetwork’sdigitalefforts.WithSundanceChannel’sentryintooriginalprogramming,hewaselevatedtoSeniorVicePresident,On-Air,OriginalProgramming&NewMedia.Hedevelopedandexecutiveproducednumerousseriesandspecials,includingRobertAltmanandGarryTrudeau’scritically-acclaimed “Tanner on Tanner” and “The Al Franken Show”, amongmany others.While at SundanceChannel, Pincus created and executive produced the ground-breaking branded entertainment project“Iconoclasts”,aseriesproducedinassociationwiththeCondéNastMediaGroup.Following his tenure at Sundance Channel, Pincus founded Hour One, an independent productioncompany that developed and produced programming for ABC, AMC, Disney’s Buena Vista Television,amongothers.Heexecutiveproduced“NimrodNation”,aneight-partdocumentaryseriesforSundanceChannel,forwhichhewasawardedtheprestigiousPeabodyAward.Pincus came toGroupMmedia agencyMediaCom to create and run the agency’sBrandContent andEntertainmentpractice,MediaComBeyondAdvertising(MBA).Onhiswatch,MBAcreatedcross-platformcontentforclientsincludingAudi,Shell,Diageo,LVMH,andVolkswagen,garneringawardsincludingtheCannesLions,CreativeMedia,OneShowandOMMAAwardforDigitalMedia.PincusservesasanAdjunctProfessoratNYU’sTischSchooloftheArtsandwasaContributingEditortoFILMMAKERMagazine.Hehasalso chaired the selection committee for theGenArt FilmFestival, andservedontheBrandedContentCommitteeforthe4As.HeisagraduateofColumbiaUniversity.LOW(MusicBy)LOWisabandformedinDuluth,Minnesota,UnitedStatesin1993,featuringAlanSparhawkonvocalsandguitar,MimiParkeronvocalsanddrumsandSteveGarringtononbass.SparhawkandParkeraremarriedwithtwochildren;theyfirstmetinfourthgradeinruralMinnesota.LOWreleaseditsfirstalbum,ICouldLiveinHope,in1994onVernonYardRecords.Peggedas"slowcore"duetotheband'sminimalistsoundscapesandthebeautifulharmoniesofSparhawkandParker,whichstoodinstarkcontrasttotheera's fascinationwith grunge, LOWcontinued toworkwith variedproducers and releaseda constantstreamofcriticallyacclaimedalbums(LongDivision,CurtainHitstheCast,ThingsWeLost intheFire),one-offs,collaborationsandothermiscellany,andhavetouredwithbandssuchasRadioheadandRedHousePainters.In2015,Lowreleasedtheireleventhstudioalbum(andfifthalbumforSubPopRecords),entitled"OnesAndSixes".
ABOUTTHEPRODUCTIONCOMPANIESWARRIORPOETSWarriorPoetsisaNewYork-basedproductionstudiofoundedin2004byAcademyAward®nominatedfilmmakerMorganSpurlock.Sinceitscreation,heandproducingpartnerJeremyChilnickhaveproducedmultipleawardwinningfilmsandtelevisionprograms.Films includeONEDIRECTION:THIS ISUS,POMWONDERFULPRESENTS:THEGREATESTMOVIEEVERSOLD,COMIC-CON:EPISODE IV–AFAN’SHOPE,MANSOME,WHEREINTHEWORLDISOSAMABINLADEN?,THEPISTOLSHRIMPS,andFREAKONOMICS.Televisionprojects include theaward-winningFX series “30Days”, the IDAaward-winningCNNseries“Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man”, Showtime’s “7 Deadly Sins”, ESPN’s “The Dotted Line”, Emmy andWriter’sGuild nominated THE SIMPSONS20THANNIVERSARY SPECIAL IN 3DON ICE!.Digital projectsinclude Hulu’s “A Day in the Life”, Yahoo’s MANSOME, “Failure Club”, and “LOSING IT WITH JOHNSTAMOS”andYouTubeRed’sVLOGUMENTARY.WarriorPoets’mostrecentcreditsincludeTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalselectionRATS,aDiscovery"HorrorDoc"FilmbasedonRobertSullivan’sNYTimesBestSellingBook,directed,written&producedbySpurlockandthecriticallyacclaimeddocumentaryTHEEAGLEHUNTRESS.WarriorPoets’upcomingslateincludesTribecaFilmFestivalselectionNOMAN’SLANDandtheuntitledfeaturefilmaboutHollywoodSuperagentSueMengersbasedonBrianKellow’sbestsellingbiographyCanIGoNow:TheLifeofSueMengers,Hollywood’sFirstSuperagentthatwillbedirectedbySpurlockandco-writtenandco-producedbySpurlockandChilnick.TOPICTopicistheambitiousnewstorytellingbrandandentertainmentstudiofromFirstLookMediadedicatedtosupportingcreatorsattheforefrontofculture.FromAcademyAward®-winningfilms(SPOTLIGHT)totelevision,audioanddigital,weexploreawiderangeofsubjectmatter,bothfictionandnonfiction.Ourapproach–challenging,compellingandunconventional– reflectsourcommitment todiscoveringandamplifyingindependentnewvoices,andsupportingestablishedones.IMPACTPARTNERSImpactPartnersisdedicatedtofundingindependentdocumentarystorytellingthatentertainsaudiences,engageswithpressingsocialissues,andpropelstheartofcinemaforward.Sinceitsinceptionin2007,ImpactPartnershasbeeninvolvedinthefinancingofover80films,including:OttoBell’sEAGLEHUNTRESS,whichpremieredatthe2016SundanceFilmFestivalandwillbedistributedbySonyPicturesClassicsinOctober2016,THECOVE,whichwontheAcademyAward®forDocumentaryFeature;HOWTOSURVIVEAPLAGUE,whichwasnominatedfortheAcademyAward®forDocumentaryFeature;THEHUNTINGGROUND;THEQUEENOFVERSAILLES,whichwontheU.S.DirectingAwardatthe2012SundanceFilmFestivalandHELLANDBACKAGAIN,whichwontheDocumentaryGrandJuryPrizeandCinematographyAwardsat the2011SundanceFilmFestivalandwasnominatedfor theAcademyAward®forDocumentaryFeature.ImpactPartnerswasfoundedbyDanCoganandGeralynDreyfous.