Festivals, Film
Jan 19, 2014

SUNDANCE: ZACH BRAFF’S ‘WISH I WAS HERE’ NEAR DEAL AT FOCUS FEATURES

Wish I Was Here, actor-director Zach Braff’s Kickstarter-funded follow-up to his 2004 directorial debut Garden State, is nearing a deal to be acquired by Focus Features, according to sources at Sundance.

The sale price is approximately $2.75 million, according to one source, with a significant theatrical commitment of about 600 theaters.

Wish I Was Here, from production companies Double Feature Films, Second Stix Films and Christopher Woodrow andMolly Conners of Worldview Entertainment, premiered Saturday to mostly positive (and some critical) reviews.
Braff’s comedic dramedy centers on a thirty-something actor coming to terms with his life in the face of his father’s illness and his life’s dreams unfulfilled. Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkinand Josh Gad co-star. Producers are Braff, brother Adam Braff, Stacey Sher and Michael Shamberg.
The first film from a major star to be funded by crowdfunding site Kickstarter, Wish I Was Here is said to have generated strong interest from CBS Films and Lionsgate in an auction conducted by CAA and Wild Bunch

The move would mark the first big festival acquisition by Focus since owner Universal Pictures replaced CEO James Schamus with Peter Schlessel in the fall and shifted its focus from purely arthouse pics to a more commercial sensibility.
Wish I Was Here is one of two films Worldview is shopping at Sundance. The production-financing outfit also has the Anne Hathaway-starrer Song One at the festival.