EXCLUSIVE: Fresh off its premiere at SXSW, Joe Swanberg‘s The Sun Never Sets has landed U.S. theatrical distribution with Independent Film Company and Sapan Studio.
The romantic drama, starring Dakota Fanning (Ripley), Jake Johnson (Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed), and Cory Michael Smith (May December), will be released later this year.
Marking Swanberg’s 10th overall collaboration with Independent Film Company, and his first film in nearly a decade, The Sun Never Sets follows Wendy (Fanning), an Alaskan who finds her life upended when her boyfriend Jack (Johnson) —older, divorced, and with children — asks for space to reassess their relationship. During their separation, Wendy reconnects with her ex, Chuck (Smith), sparking an emotionally charged love triangle that forces all three to confront the realities of love, timing, and personal growth.
A veteran indie filmmaker known for projects like Drinking Buddies and the Netflix series Easy, a comedic anthology of Chicago stories, Swanberg directed from his own script, with Debby Ryan (Insatiable), Anna Konkle (PEN15), Lamorne Morris (New Girl), and Karley Sciortino (Slutever) rounding out the cast.
Johnson, Fanning, and Smith produced alongside Swanberg and Ashleigh Snead. Exec producers included Dan Johnson, Kathryn Gitibin Parsa, and Ariana Parsa.
Swanberg told us, “Independent Film Company has done a masterful job releasing my films since the beginning of my career. They continue to innovate and effectively connect audiences with the best global cinema, and I’m honored to continue our nearly 20 year collaboration. In partnership with Sapan Studio, whose passion for the film is inspiring, I look forward to reaching the largest possible audience, both theatrically and digitally, and sharing this special project, which I love so much.”
Scott Shooman, Head of IFC Entertainment Group, commented, “Joe Swanberg’s longstanding relationship with Independent Film Company reflects our enduring commitment to championing distinctive storytellers who create meaningful, impactful work. Over the course of ten films together at IFC, he has consistently delivered work that feels deeply human, intimate, and emotionally authentic. With THE SUN NEVER SETS, he continues that tradition, and we’re especially proud to bring this beautiful story to the big screen, where this mature and layered experience may be best shared with audiences in a communal way.”
Josh Sapan of Sapan Studio added, “THE SUN NEVER SETS is Joe Swanberg at his finest. The deft script and brilliant cast yield true-to-life characters that are impossible to resist. There is no one better than IFC to bring this rare film to audiences and the world.”
Ayo Kepher-Maat negotiated the deal on behalf of Independent Film Company, with UTA negotiating on behalf of the filmmakers.
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