Cannes: Ernest Cole Doc, About South African Photographer Who Captured Brutality of Apartheid, Sells to Magnolia Pictures, MK2 Films

variety.com:

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Magnolia Pictures and MK2 Films have acquired rights to Roaul Peck’s documentary about renowned photographer Ernest Cole.

The untitled documentary chronicles the life and work of Cole, the first Black freelance photographer in South Africa, whose early work revealed to the world the shocking, brutal realities of Black life under apartheid.

Magnolia will release the film in North American theaters, while MK2 will handle the rollout internationally. “Ernest Cole’s long and, at times, painful and tedious journey in America brings me back to a period of my life when my political commitment and artistic stamina were forged,” Peck said in a statement. “I profoundly feel, cherish and treasure his human eye on the facts of life and his piercing acuity over our terrible contradictions.” The sale marks a reunion for Magnolia and Peck after 2016’s James Baldwin documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” which became a modest box office hit with $8 million globally. “The opportunity to serve auteurs like the great Raoul Peck is why we do this work,” said Magnolia Pictures co-CEO Dori Begley. “With his incomparable vision and integrity as our guide, team Magnolia can’t wait to help share the extraordinary story of this essential artist with audiences.” MK2 Films will launch international sales in Cannes, which runs May 16 through May 27. “The combination of a powerful human rights story, Ernest Cole’s own struggles as an exiled artist, and the mystery around his negatives and legacy promise to deliver an incredibly moving and thrilling film from the masterful documentarian”, said Fionnuala Jamison, managing director of MK2 Films.