The last year and change have not been kind to filmmakers Woody Allen and Roman Polanski. Both critically-acclaimed and legends in the industry, Allen and Polanski have spent the last year blacklisted from Hollywood, as their sexual misconduct allegations from decades previous have resurfaced in light of the #MeToo movement. Interestingly enough, both are trying to find distribution for their new films. And they’re struggling.
As reported in a new profile by Vanity Fair, both Polanski and Allen have new films (“An Officer and a Spy” and “A Rainy Day in New York,” respectively) that they’re actively seeking worldwide distribution deals with. However, in today’s climate, both men are struggling to find takers, even though five years ago, studios would have fought each other over the right to do put these films in theaters.
The report says that both filmmakers have found European distribution fairly easily, with Polanski and Allen’s latest films getting a fall release overseas. But in the US, there haven’t been any takers. And it doesn’t appear that anyone is willing to take a chance, yet.
But according to one distributor, you can’t really lump the two men in together. “I think we would consider [Polanski’s film],” Howard Cohen, co-president of Roadside Attractions, said. “Though I’m not even sure how I personally feel. People have been releasing his films for years.”
He continued, “Now, we are looking at it through a different lens, with good reason. We have to search our souls if it’s the right thing to do. What does it mean to release this movie? I don’t think that’s a settled question even in my mind.”
The distinction appears to be the women involved. Allen’s accuser, in his alleged sexual molestation incident, has been vocal in recent times, calling for the filmmaker to be criticized and prosecuted. Polanski, on the other hand, is in a bit of a different situation. Even though Polanski was convicted of rape decades ago, he fled the country and never served time. And in the interim, his victim has publicly stated she wants him to be forgiven.
That being said, Polanski is still excommunicado (to borrow a “John Wick” term) in Hollywood, with the Academy recently expelling him. So, he’s not a sure bet for distributors anymore. The same with Allen, who had Amazon relinquish the rights to his latest film due to accusations.
For Allen’s film, an anonymous indie distributor said, “None of the publicly traded companies can release it, but there are ways to get the film out via self-distribution methods.”
It appears that if you live in the US and are hoping to see the new films from these directors, you may have to wait a bit longer, or come to terms with seeing it through some smaller distributor on a streaming service or VOD platform.