Film Festival pickups highlight this weekend’s new specialty releases.

Magnolia is targeting the traditional art house crowd for its cast-rich romantic-drama 360, while the director of The Babymakers said his comedy is the sort that big studios have now mostly abandoned.

Sony Classics’ Celeste And Jesse Forever had a wild ride at different outfits before getting private financing and a pickup out of Sundance.

China Lion nabbed Girlfriend Boyfriend at the Cannes Film Market and will target both gays and Asian audiences, while Alive Mind Cinema is taking a quasi-DIY approach for Seattle Film Festival doc Sushi: The Global Catch.360Director: Fernando MeirellesWriter: Peter Morgan (screenplay), Arthur SchnitzlerCast: Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, Ben Foster, Lucia SiposováDistributor: Magnolia PicturesMagnolia Pictures picked up this romantic-drama out of last year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

The distributor was drawn to the film, directed by Fernando Meirelles and Oscar-nominated writer Peter Morgan (The Queen) due to its pedigree of filmmakers and actors.

“It’s a sophisticated team of filmmakers and a lovely cast,” said Magnolia exec Matt Cowal.

“It’s a smart and elegant flick that will appeal to the classic art-house audience.” To reach that crowd, Magnolia created a poster and trailer for the “ensemble character-driven film, and we’ve been pushing this online.” It opens in exclusive runs today in New York and Los Angeles.

Magnolia aims ...... See Complete Article @ Deadline Hollywood