IFC Films acquires ‘Biosphere,’ feature film directorial debut from Mel Eslyn

Posted by Brandy McDonnell on Dec 15, 2022 | 0 comments

IFC Films recently announced it is acquiring the North American rights to “Biosphere,” the feature film directorial debut from award-winning producer Mel Eslyn (“The One I Love”).

Billed as a playful science fiction film, “Biosphere” is set in the not-too-distant future and stars Mark Duplass and Sterling K. Brown as the last two men on Earth, who must adapt and evolve to save humanity.

The film was produced by Eslyn, artist/filmmaker Zackary Drucker—who previously co-directed the Duplass Brothers-produced docuseries “The Lady and the Dale”—and Duplass Brothers Productions’ Shuli Harel and Maddie Buis. Mark and Jay Duplass are executive producers on the film.

“Biosphere” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September to a strong audience response and enthusiastic reviews, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “mysterious and hilarious” and The Playlist writing “Duplass and Brown [exude] the give-and-take rhythms of years spent together,” while “Eslyn and Duplass’ script unpeels its premise so slowly, carefully, and effectively.”

“We are thrilled to work with producer Mel Eslyn again to bring her extraordinary feature directing debut out into the world and could not be more excited to work with her partners, Mark and Jay Duplass,” said Arianna Bocco, president of IFC Films, in a statement.

“Mark and Jay are exactly the kind of partners you dream of working with in this business as they are committed to supporting new talent and original projects. ‘Biosphere’ is a prime example of this creative team and their ability to brilliantly push the envelope, and with Mark opposite the talented Sterling K. Brown, the film is guaranteed to steal hearts.”

IFC Films will release “Biosphere” in 2023, with streaming to follow exclusively on AMC+, according to a news release.

“I’ve had such a long history with IFC as a producer,” said Eslyn in a statement. “I’m so excited to get to partner with them on my feature directorial debut; it feels like coming home.”

As a producer, Eslyn has been behind notable films like the 2014 Sundance Film Festival hit “The One I Love,” Clea DuVall’s debut “The Intervention,” Lynn Shelton’s “Outside In,” Natalie Morales’ “Language Lessons,” and Roshan Sethi’s award-winning “7 Days.” In 2016, Eslyn took home the Independent Spirit Producer’s Award.

Her television producing credits include HBO’s “Room 104,” on which she also frequently wrote and directed. Most recently, she produced the breakout HBO comedy “Somebody Somewhere” as well as Sam Jones’ latest documentary, “Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off.”

IFC Films recently released the Duplass Brothers-produced “Spin Me Round,” directed by Jeff Baena. The company has a long history with Mark Duplass, most notably having released the late Lynn Shelton’s beloved film “Your Sister’s Sister,” starring Duplass, Emily Blunt, and Rosemarie DeWitt.

The deal for the film was negotiated by IFC Films’ Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Production Scott Shooman with CAA Media Finance on behalf of the filmmakers.

-BAM

explore: Biosphere | IFC Films | Mark Duplass | Mel Eslyn | Sterling K. Brown