A24 has officially secured the rights to "Club Kid," bringing Jordan Firstman's dramedy home from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival after a bidding war that raged in the South of France. The film, which was financed and produced by Topic Studios, has reportedly sold for a staggering $17 million, according to three sources.
The buzz surrounding Firstman's directorial debut had been growing ever since its premiere at Cannes on Friday night, and it quickly became a hot ticket item. Mubi, Focus Features, Searchlight, A24, and Netflix were all vying for the rights to "Club Kid," with offers in the seven-figure range. The price tag quickly escalated, and it landed in the high-teen eight figures, according to multiple insiders. UTA handled the sales with an international assist from Charades.
The film follows a club promoter who has long outgrown his time in the Manhattan party scene. When the 10-year-old son he never knew he had shows up at his door, he must choose to finally enter the adult world as a father or keep dancing the years away. Firstman stars and directs the film, which was produced by Academy Award-winner Alex Coco (Anora) and Galen Core (Lurker), alongside Topic Studio's Ryan Heller (A Real Pain, Splitsville) and Michael Bloom. Topic Studios also financed the film with Stay Gold as co-financier.
Firstman also serves as an executive producer alongside Ian Stratford, Charles Croft, and Jasmine Daghighian for Topic, Olmo Schnabel, and Daniela Taplin for Stay Gold. This marks the first major sale at this year's Cannes, one that's notably void of Hollywood starpower or blockbuster muscle. The market has been further dampened by the fact that a significant number of titles arrived at the festival already with distribution. For example, Neon, which has won the last six Palmes d'Or, brought nine films to the table.
In conclusion, A24's acquisition of "Club Kid" is a significant development in the world of cinema, and it showcases the growing appetite for independent and original content in the film industry. With its rich storyline and talented cast and crew, "Club Kid" is sure to be a hit among audiences worldwide.
