IFC Films has acquired all U.S. rights to Matt Johnson’s BlackBerry feature, about the rise and fall of Research In Motion (now known as BlackBerry Ltd.), the Canadian company behind the eponymous smartphone. IFC Films plans to release the Rhombus Media and Zapruder Films production (pictured) in 2023, according to a news release issued Thursday (Sept. 8), the first day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The deal for domestic rights was brokered by Nate Bolotin and Pip Ngo for Los Angeles-based XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers, and by Scott Shooman, SVP of acquisitions and productions, on behalf of IFC Films. XYZ Films co-financed and executive produced the Canadian-shot film and is selling world rights to it at TIFF.

BlackBerry will be distributed in Canada by Elevation Pictures. Johnson directed and also stars in BlackBerry, which is produced by Niv Fichman, Matthew Miller, Fraser Ash and Kevin Krikst. The feature was produced with the participation of Telefilm Canada and Ontario Creates, in association with CBC Films, Finland’s IPR.VC, and XYZ Films.

“The origin of IFC is a dead-ringer match for the wild-west beginnings of the first smartphone. Both exploded from 90s outsider culture with designs on changing the world. It’s a perfect home for BlackBerry and I can’t wait for them to present this insane story to the world,” said Johnson in a statement.

When Morning Comes

Photon Films has acquired the Canadian distribution rights to When Morning Comes (Sunflower Studios) from Canadian writer-director Kelly Fyffe-Marshall. Produced by Playback 10 to Watch alums Tamar Bird and Sasha Leigh Henry, and Iva Golubovic, the drama about a young Jamaican boy and his widowed mother is making its world premiere in TIFF’s Discovery program.

Photon Films is also at TIFF with two other Canadian world premieres: Rosie, written and directed by Gail Maurice, and produced by Jamie Manning, Maurice and Melanie Bray; and Until Branches Bend by writer-director Sophie Jarvis and produced by Vancouver-based Experimental Forest Films, Ceroma Films and Reign Films, in partnership with Switzerland’s Cinédokké Films.

All three films “epitomize a new wave of Canadian cinema that blends fearless storytelling with audience satisfaction,” Photon Films president Mark Slone said in a statement.

Marlene

U.K. sales firm 101 Films International has acquired worldwide sales rights (excluding North America) to Wendy Hill-Tout’s film Marlene. The division of Amcomri Entertainment will handle sales for the drama, which is based on the wrongful conviction of Steven Truscott, during TIFF.

Hill-Tout directed and produced the film, and also co-wrote with Cathy Ostlere. Coproduced by Michael Peterson, Marlene has already been released in theatres in Canada and was a runner-up for an audience award at the Whistler Film Festival. It’s produced by Voice Pictures while Vortex Media holds Canadian distribution rights.

Image courtesy of IFC Films