Freshman 'dance

New distributors joining the fest fray aim to exploit different platforms for their big buys:Adopt FilmsSundance's comeback kid is October Films co-founder Jeff Lipsky, whose new venture partners him with Tim Grady, Karen Sternal and a group of Minnesota backers. After acquiring three specialty pics around Toronto ("The Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye" due in March, "Mighty Fine" in May and "Nuit #1" in July), Adopt Films is looking for a late-year theatrical release, plus 6-8 U.S. indie, foreign and doc releases for 2013. "The niche we'd like to successfully occupy is alongside Roadside Attractions," Lipsky says. * * * Angle FilmsPaul Brooks (Gold Circle Films) and Jason Blum (Blumhouse Prods.) have launched a pickup/production outfit boasting distribution through Universal. After announcing the venture at AFM, senior VP of production and acquisitions Guy Danella is looking to Sundance for Angle's first buy, ideally either high-end genre material (action, thriller, horror and sci-fi) or a unique comedy project they can expand beyond core demographics. * * * Big Air StudiosSet to announce their slate in the coming weeks, the full-service studio hopes to acquire some titles for its nine-film release slate in 2012, ramping up to 18 films next year. Big Air "endeavors to make its films available on all screens from theatrical to DVD to PCs to mobile phones to tablets and beyond," says a rep, explaining the company's strategy of delivering pics on all possible platforms. A vet industry team, including CEO Michael Arrieta, chief content officer Robert Baruc, president Marc Sternberg and exec VP of content Michael Stradford, will attend. * * * Drafthouse FilmsAlamo Drafthouse founder Tim League, along with the distrib's COO James Shapiro (previously of Anchor Bay) and creative director Evan Husney, will be hunting for "smart genre" fare, seeking six new features to complement six rep titles each year (the 2012 slate boasts "The FP" in March, "Klown" in May and "Bullhead" this spring). "The expanding Alamo Drafthouse theater chain will provide the backbone of our rollouts," League says, "and Badass Digest and Fantastic Fest will assist on our film and event promotions." * * * LD DistributionAfter years teaming with labels like Roadside on acquisitions, producer-financier Mickey Liddell's LD Entertainment has launched a full-service outfit headed by Paramount Classics alum and self-distribution guru David Dinerstein. "We anticipate releasing a total of four to six films in our first year, which will vary from specialized to wide release," Dinerstein says -- this in addition to producing four to six movies for up to $25 million each. (LD already has three pics -- "Killer Joe," "The Collection" and "Disconnect" -- in the pipeline.) * * * OWN Documentary Film ClubAfter launching the venture at Sundance last year, Oprah Winfrey's for-TV nonfiction pic project will be back, this time in the market for titles. "We are looking to acquire six (docs) for this year," says OWN senior VP of scheduling and acquisitions Scott Garner, who joined the network shortly after it picked up 2011 Sundance title "Becoming Chaz." "We are looking for films that inspire and entertain, stimulating a new way of thinking about the world." * * * OthersAfter the announcement of their new Weinstein Co. label before Toronto, Magnolia vets Jason Janego and Tom Quinn are said to have picked up at least a few titles, fitting a strategy to deliver pics and specialty entertainment "simultaneously across multiple digital and traditional platforms." And smaller-scale distrib ARC Entertainment is expected to be scouting with prexy Rich Goldberg in town.Sundance Film Festival 2012How to brand a fest | Tyro focus makes fest no country for old men | Target titles | Thrills turn more extreme as indie genre pics evolve | Freshman 'dance | Filmmakers free to experiment in labs Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

'Magic/Bird' snags Longacre

Incoming basketball bio play "Miracle/Bird" has slam-dunked its perfect Broadway, nabbing the Longacre Theater with an April opening. Production also provides arranged a cast including Peter Scolari, Off Broadway vet Deirdre O'Connell, Make the most of Ray Manning Junior. and Francois Battiste, turning up alongside formerly introduced topliners Kevin Daniels and Tug Coker. "Miracle/Bird" pounces round the Rialto vacancy left by "Chinglish," whose producers introduced its closing this year's week. Show certifies its slot in the new play selection this season including "Seminar," "Venus in Fur," "Stick Fly," "The Mountaintop" and approaching activities "The Author" and "One Guy, Two Guvnors." Story of "Miracle/Bird" follows the hoops competition of Miracle Manley and Ray Bird, getting a script developed from interviews while using two players. Show might be the 2nd sports-centric stage outing from producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, who mounted pigskin play "Lombardi" last season. "Miracle/Bird" reunites the creative team of the show, including author Eric Simonson and helmer Thomas Kail ("Inside the Levels"). "Miracle/Bird" begins previews March 21 before an April 11 opening within the Longacre. Contact Gordon Cox at gordon.cox@variety.com

Josh Hutcherson talks The Hunger Games

Total Film recently taken track of Josh Hutcherson, and, not remarkably, it didn't take extended for consult with turn for that Hunger Games.Hutcherson, to date most broadly noted for turns in Bridge To Terabithia, Journey To The Center Of Our World as well as the Youngsters Are Okay, plays Peeta inside the approaching adaptation of Suzanne Collins' very effective novel.Peeta is really a half of District 12's effort inside the fight-to-the-dying tournament, with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) being another. Though, knowing with what Hutcherson told us, the movie's audition process sounds as unwavering since the games themselves:"Psychologically it absolutely was tough because I'd never of the character greater than Used related to Peeta. I felt he looked like who I am as someone who I used to be like, "Essentially don't get it, I won't understand." It drove me crazy."After which it there's possibly an amount more terrifying prospect to cope with: could he get ready if THG does end up being the next Twilight?"I'm scared of the products my existence could become. Becoming an actor, everyone hopes eventually being that well-known but concurrently being thrust inside it immediately has me overcome. "Whether or not this does happen, I am likely to be grateful and afraid concurrently.InchTrip 2: The Mysterious Island opens on 3 February 2012, while using Hunger Games following on 23 March 2012.For further from Josh Hutcherson, have the new problem of Total Film magazine, which hits newsstands on 19 The month of the month of january 2012.Follow the link a regular membership to Total Film magazine.Follow the link to acquire Total Film magazine on iPad and apple apple iphone from Apple Newsstand.

Start Looking: The Way I Met Your Mother's Large Goodbye

The Way I Met Your Mother Within the The month of january 16 episode of CBS' The Way I Met Your Mother, the gang transmits parents-to-be Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) off and away to the and surrounding suburbs. "It's another large transition within the lives of those figures we have all resided with and loved for seven years," states executive producer Craig Thomas. "So in this particular imaginary hug are a handful of very real feelings: pride, gratitude, pleasure...and merely an indication of 'Holy, garbage, we have been working very hard, when's vacation gonna start already?'" Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!