“Christy,” a sports drama that features a transformative performance from “Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney as a female boxer, will be released by Black Bear in theaters in the thick of awards season.
Heading into the Toronto Film Festival where it will premiere, “Christy” was one of the hottest acquisition targets, but Black Bear, which financed the picture, has decided to take it off the board and make it the inaugural release of its fledgling distribution label. The film is a biopic of Christy Martin, a WBC female super welterweight champ. It’s directed by Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner David Michôd (“Animal Kingdom”) and co-stars Ben Foster, Merritt Wever, and Katy O’Brian. “Christy” will be released in theaters nationwide on Nov. 7 and Black Bear plans to mount an Oscar campaign for the picture and for Sweeney’s performance, which is said to be chameleonic.
“We’re thrilled about the upcoming release of ‘Christy,’ a moving portrait of resilience and defiance from visionary filmmaker David Michôd,” said Black Bear President of U.S. Distribution Benjamin Kramer. “Led by Sydney Sweeney’s masterful transformation into the iconic Christy, capturing a young woman’s fierce determination to define her own destiny, the film is elevated by Michôd’s elegant direction and enriched by an electric supporting turn from Ben Foster. Both tender and unflinching, ‘Christy’ is a celebration of persistence, humor, and humanity in the face of unexpected turns. We cannot wait to share it with audiences across the country.”
Michôd co-wrote the screenplay with Mirrah Foulkes, from a story by Katherine Fugate. The film follows Martin as “she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim (Foster). But while Christy flaunts a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles unfold outside it, as she confronts family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.” The film is Black Bear’s second collaboration with Sweeney, who previously starred in the studio’s horror film “Immaculate.”
“Christy” was produced by Black Bear, Anonymous Content, Votiv, Fifty-Fifty Films, and Yoki. Producers are Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman, Votiv’s Brent Stiefel and Justin Lothrop, Michôd, and Sweeney.
UTA Independent Film Group and AC Independent co-represented U.S. rights and negotiated the deal with Black Bear on behalf of the filmmaking team. Black Bear is handling international rights and will theatrically release the film in the U.K. and Ireland.
Black Bear launched its distribution arm in July bringing over Kramer from CAA to run it and hiring David Spitz, a long-term Lionsgate distribution executive. The company has previously been an active producer and financier, backing such films as “Sing Sing” and “I Care a Lot.”
