Gus Van Sant’s ‘Dead Man’s Wire’ Acquired by Row K Entertainment in First Big Buy for New Distributor

In one of the first major transactions out of TIFF, Row K Entertainment lands the U.S. and Canadian rights to Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire.” The film serves as the inaugural release title for Row K, a new U.S. theatrical distribution company from Media Capital Technologies, which launched last month.

“Dead Man’s Wire” tells the fascinating true story of the 1977 kidnapping that made aspiring Indianapolis entrepreneur Tony Kiritsis an eccentric outlaw folk hero. The film stars Bill Skarsgård, Dacre Montgomery, Cary Elwes, Myha’la, Colman Domingo and Al Pacino.

The thriller debuted last week at the Venice Film Festival, where the audience praised the project with an 11-minute ovation. Domingo, who features in the ‘70s-set film as a smooth radio DJ who becomes a key component in a hostage negotiation, also energized the crowd with chants of “Gus! Gus! Gus!” as Van Sant looked on with pride.