HBO has confirmed with us that it has acquired all television rights for the U.S. and Canada to director James Toback’s feature documentary ‘SEDUCED AND ABANDONED’.
 
The documentary will make its world premiere as a Special Screening in the Official Selection this month at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival. This comes after a short announcement from Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. The film was produced by Michael Mailer, Alec Baldwin and Toback, and executive produced by Morris Levy, Alan Helene, Larry Herbert and Neal Schneider.
 
As a documentary, the film is “guided” by Alec Baldwin and James Toback. The film is a cinematic exploration of several interconnected subjects: The Cannes Film Festival and cinema art, money, glamor and death. Shot during the 65th Anniversary Festival in 2012, it features fascinating and original portraits of Bernardo Bertolucci, Francis Ford Coppola, Roman Polanski, Martin Scorsese, Ryan Gosling, Jessica Chastain, Berenice Bejo, Diane Kruger and James Caan. SEDUCED AND ABANDONED is produced by Michael Mailer Films.
 
“When James and Alec set out to make this documentary, it took a different turn,” commented Lombardo. “What resulted is something uniquely special and wonderfully entertaining.” “I am thrilled to be in business with HBO,” noted Toback. “Richard Plepler’s and Michael Lombardo’s enthusiasm for our film has been incredibly gratifying, and I am looking forward to audiences getting to share our cinematic journey.” “HBO has long been a home for unique documentary films,” added Baldwin. “I’m grateful that they have chosen to present ours.”
 
The deal for the film was negotiated with HBO by Jeff Berg at Resolution on behalf of the filmmakers. International sales are being handled by Hanway. James Toback’s most recent film was the acclaimed documentary “Tyson.” An Academy Award® nominee for his screenplay for “Bugsy,” he has written and directed “Fingers,” “Love & Money,” “Exposed,” “The Big Bang,” “Two Girls and a Guy,” “Harvard Man,” “The Pick-up Artist,” “Black and White” and “When Will I Be Loved.” Toback also wrote the original screenplay for the Carol Reisz film “The Gambler.”