Shortly after earning the Founder’s Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival, Demetri Martin’s comedy-drama Dean was picked up by CBS Films. The distributor snagged U.S. rights to the title in which comedian Martin stars, wrote and directed – the film marks his directorial debut. Martin is likely most familiar for his various stand-up specials and has previously appeared on screen in Lake Bell’s Sundance Film Festival winner In World… and Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock. CBS Films reportedly chalked up about $1 million. Deadline first reported the news.
Dean centers around an illustrator (Martin) who is attempting to stop his father (played by Oscar winner Kevin Kline) from selling his childhood home in wake of his mother’s passing. In the meantime, he also become smitten by a new woman in his life, played by Community alum Gillian Jacobs. Reid Scott (Veep) and Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen (The Help) also star. The Tribeca Film Festival jury said of the film: “It manages the near impossible task of breathing new life into a well-worn genre, balancing humor and pathos with an incredibly deft touch, and offering a unique perspective on the way we process loss.”
mxdwn recently reviewed Dean, writing, “Demetri Martin’s debut is absolutely charming with strong performances and some genuinely funny scenes. Its adherence to formula might make the film feel disposable, but even if you forget it the moment you leave the theater, Dean is a perfectly fine way to spend 90 minutes.”
CBS Films hasn’t disclosed a potential release date of yet.
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