A24’s big deal out of TIFF happened on 09.15.23. That’s when they bought Greg Kwedar’s “Sing Sing,” which stars Colman Domingo, Clarence Maclin, Sean San José, and Paul Raci. The plan was for a 2024 theatrical release — the indie studio acquired the film in a seven-figure deal.
We now have a trailer for the acclaimed TIFF title which much of the press, including myself, missed out on at Toronto. It was barely screened there and didn’t have its premiere at one of the two big theaters of the festival (Princess of Wales and Roy Thompson Hall).
And yet, some are already predicting this one to be part of next year’s Oscar race. Yes, some pundits already have it as one of their 10 Best Picture nominees. It’s a tad too early to even think about 2025 when this year’s Oscars haven’t even aired yet, but speculation has always been part of the game, I guess.
“Sing Sing” is about an incarcerated theater troupe that puts on a play as part of a rehabilitation program. Kwedar (“Jockey”) directed “Sing Sing” and co-wrote it with Clint Bentley. The film will have its U.S. premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on Friday and is set for theatrical release in July.
The short version: "Woman Unknown" was a compromise. The jury deadlocked over "Possible Love" and "NAZA," not able to com to terms, fell back on their #3, May el-Toukhy's film.