Indie distributor The Film Arcade has acquired the rights to the coming-of-age drama James White. The movie premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and follows a young New Yorker (Christopher Abbot) struggling with his self-destructive behavior while his family makes some major changes.
The movie won the Best of Next Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and is the feature debut for director James Mond, who has served as a producer on other indie hits including Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) and Afterschool (2008). Since leaving HBO’s Girls Abbot has been focusing on feature film work, including last year’s A Most Violent Year. He worked with Mond on Marcy May Marlene and recently joined Tina Fey’s The Taliban Shuffle. Cynthia Nixon (5 Flights Up) plays James’ mother in the movie, which also stars the rapper Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi (Need for Speed).
No release plans have been announced but expect this to follow the typical indie plan of reaching VOD services as well as a limited theatrical release.