The Wagner/Cuban Company's Magnolia Pictures announced today they have acquired North American distribution rights to The Queen of Versailles, an outrageous, timely and moving film that premiered last night to a sold out crowd at the Eccles theater as this year's opening night film at the Sundance film festival. Television and international rights are still available.
From acclaimed filmmaker and photographer Lauren Greenfield (Thin, Kids + Money; named one of the top 25 most influential photographers of our time by American Photo), The Queen of Versailles is a prescient, wildly entertaining documentary about billionaires Jackie and David Siegel, who are constructing what will be the largest house in America-a 90,000 square foot behemoth modeled after the palace of Versailles.
When the financial market collapses in 2008, their extravagant dreams are put on hold. David's massive time-share business runs into difficulties, and the filmmaker is there to capture the Siegel's truly uncanny turn of fortune. While delivering big laughs, The Queen of Versailles also manages to be a moving, clear-eyed snapshot of a unique and sobering moment in our history, as we are forced to reevaluate the sustainability of the American dream. The Queen of Versailles is an Evergreen Pictures production and its producers are Lauren Greenfield, Danielle Renfrew Behrens, Frank Evers and Dan Cogan.
"The Queen of Versailles brilliantly encapsulates the salient issues of the American economic downturn, while also being one of the jaw-droppingly entertaining films I've seen in a very long time," said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. "Lauren Greenfield is an exceptionally talented filmmaker with a wonderfully humanistic touch, and she has found a truly magnetic, charismatic star in Jackie Siegel."
"I am really excited to be working with Magnolia, who we huddled with late into last night," says Lauren Greenfield. "I feel like we have found a true kindred spirit, who cares as much about our film as we do. I am really looking forward to working with such a smart, impressive team."
Magnolia is planning a summer theatrical release for the film.