Director Yen Tan’s innovative drama 1985 — shot on 16 mm Kodak film in black and white — was a huge hit on opening night of the SXSW Film Festival (I was there at the world premiere), received universal acclaim for its sober and heartbreaking story of a closeted gay man (Cory Michael Smith) returning to visit his conservative North Texas parents (Virginia Madsen and Michael Chiklis). One of the producers, Ash Christian, told me early on that several distributors were vying to release the film. Now comes word that Wolfe Releasing has acquired the theatrical and home distribution rights to the film. 1985, which also screened at the Dallas International Film Festival last month, will hit theater in October. Don’t miss it.
– Arnold Wayne Jones
