Apple Acquires Rights to CODA for $25 Million Following Sundance Film Festival Debut [Report]
Apple has acquired rights to CODA following the film’s debut at the Sundance Film Festival, reports Deadline.
In the first big deal of the 2021 virtual Sundance Film Festival, Apple has landed worldwide rights to CODA, for a number just north of $25 million. That sets a new a Sundance acquisitions record — above the $22.5 million that Palm Springs received last year from Hulu/Neon. But this time, all the premiere watching and all night auctioning was done far from the slopes of Park City. It came down to a pitched battle between Apple and Amazon.
In CODA, which stands for Child of Deaf Adults, Ruby (Emilia Jones) is the only hearing member of a deaf family. At 17, she works mornings before school to help her parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) and brother (Daniel Durant) keep their Gloucester fishing business afloat. But in joining her high school’s choir club, Ruby finds herself drawn to both her duet partner (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) and her latent passion for singing. Her enthusiastic, tough-love choirmaster (Eugenio Derbez) hears something special and encourages Ruby to consider music school and a future beyond fishing, leaving her torn between obligation to family and pursuit of her dream.
The film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. According to Deadline, buyers loved it and multiple offers were on the table. In the end, heads of Worldwide Video, Zack Van Amburg & Jamie Erlicht, had the highest bid.
Writer and director Siân Heder said, “I have been so moved by the outpouring of response to the film and am so excited to have found a partner in Apple that loves and deeply gets this movie, the spirit in which it was created and is committed to having this film reach the widest audience possible in a thoughtful and meaningful way. The whole CODA team is also so grateful to Sundance for being a part of the film’s journey. I hope that this film and Apple’s powerful support will help kick down some doors standing in the way of inclusion and representation and pave a path for more stories that center characters from the Deaf and Disabled community. The world has waited too long for these stories to be told. Now is the time. No more excuses.”
We’ll let you know when Apple announces a release date for Apple TV+. Please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS for updates.
