Sundance Hit 'Dear White People' Acquired by Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions

I don't usually post about distribution deals here, but Dear White People is a special case. Undoubtedly the most buzzed-about film before Sundance, it maintained that title after the provocative, racially-charged comedy began screening. It ultimately earned first-time director Justin Simien the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent and was the toast of the festival, which is why it's surprising it took so long for distribution to be secured.

Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions have picked up the North American rights to the film, which stars Tessa Thompson,  Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris and Brandon P Bell. Set in a fictional Ivy League university, an African-American themed party and an inflammatory radio show called "Dear White People" have turned the entire campus into a racial powder keg. It's a film I had more than my share of issues with, mostly with the lack of focus that muddles Simien's timely message. At the same time it has some extremely funny insights on the way the races relate to one another in the era of Barack Obama, and looks at the issue from multiple perspectives.  Simien is a fresh voice with a lot to say, and while comparisons to Spike Lee may be premature (the film loosely resembles School Daze) he's definitely a filmmaker worth watching.

Dear White People will play to two sold-out shows this weekend at New Directors/New Films.