THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE
OPENS WITH THE 5th HIGHEST ALL-TIME PER SCREEN AVERAGE
OPENING WEEKEND FOR A DOCUMENTARY
New York, NY (August 30, 2009) – THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE, directed by R.J. Cutler and a Roadside Attractions release and A&E IndieFilms production, opened with the 5th highest all-time per screen average for a documentary this past weekend in New York - August 28, 2009. The film opened on 6 screens for a staggering $40,013 per screen average and an average total weekend gross at a remarkable $240,078. THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE marks the highest grossing opening weekend for an A&E IndieFilms production as well as for Roadside Attractions and has the 2nd highest per screen opening weekend average from all films for this year. The film expands further into the New York market during Labor Day weekend and then will expand to Los Angeles and select markets on September 11, 2009. Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) will handle home video and A&E will follow the film’s theatrical and home video release with a television broadcast premiere.
“We’re thrilled with the films opening. People are fascinated by Anna Wintour and wanted to see this revealing and funny film, the first real portrait of a legend who’s reigned at Vogue for 20 years,” said Howard Cohen, Co-President of Roadside Attractions.
THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE had its world premiere in the Documentary Competition section at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival where it won the award for Best Cinematography and has been hotly anticipated since. With unprecedented access, filmmaker R.J. Cutler’s new film does for fashion what he did for politics in The War Room, taking the viewer inside a world they only think they know. THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE follows Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine for twenty years, and her team of larger-than-life editors through the inner workings of her magazine as the staff puts together their celebrated annual September issue.
Every August a record-breaking number of people can’t wait to get their hands on the September issue of Vogue. The 2007 issue was and remains the biggest ever, weighing over four pounds, selling thirteen million copies, and impacting the $300-billion global fashion industry more than any other single publication. An intimate, funny and surprising look at Anna Wintour and her team of larger-than-life editors as they create this must-have Bible of fashion, Cutler explores the untouchable glamour of Wintour’s Vogue to reveal the extraordinarily passionate people at its heart. He takes us behind the scenes at Fashion Week, to Europe, on shoots and reshoots, and into closed-door staff meetings, bearing witness to an arduous, entertaining, and sometimes emotionally demanding process.
At the eye of this annual fashion hurricane is the two-decade relationship between Wintour and Grace Coddington, incomparable Creative Director and fashion genius. They are perfectly matched for the age-old conflict between creator and curator. Through them, we see close-up the delicate creative chemistry it takes to remain at the top of the ever-changing fashion field.
The September Issue opens on September 11, 2009 in Los Angeles and select cities.
About Roadside Attractions
Roadside Attractions, founded in 2005 by Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff, is an independent film distribution company known for its eclectic array of specialty theatrical successes. Among its releases were the breakout popular documentaries SUPER SIZE ME and WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?, two dramas embraced by faith audiences, AMAZING GRACE and BELLA, a trio of older audience favorites, LADIES IN LAVENDER, STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING and BOYNTON BEACH CLUB, and provocative award winners like GOODBYE SOLO, THE ROAD TO GUANTANAMO and THE STONING OF SORAYA M. Currently in release are the much-awaited Vogue documentary THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE, the first feature from internet sensation Derrick Comedy, MYSTERY TEAM, and the searing eco-expose THE COVE. Upcoming this fall are Chris Rock’s hilarious examination the of African-American hair culture, GOOD HAIR, and a Latino-themed boxing drama, FROM MEXICO WITH LOVE. In 2007, Lionsgate bought a minority stake in Roadside Attractions, and Lionsgate now distributes Roadside releases on video and television.
About A&E IndieFilms
A&E IndieFilms is the feature documentary production arm of A&E Network. A&E IndieFilms is committed to developing the work of outstanding independent filmmakers and helping them reach the broadest possible audience. A&E IndieFilms acquires, commissions and provides finishing funds for feature documentaries intended for co-branded theatrical release. Films include the 2006 and 2007 Academy Award nominees for Best Documentary Feature, Murderball (ThinkFilm) and Jesus Camp (Magnolia Pictures); Nanette Burstein’s American Teen (Paramount Vantage), which received the Directing Award at Sundance Film Festival; and Amir Bar-Lev’s My Kid Could Paint That (Sony Pictures Classics).
The September Issue will be released August 28, 2009 in New York, and nationally on September 11.