Autlook Filmsales has acquired international rights to documentary “Union Town,” from two-time Academy Award-winning director Barbara Kopple, which will celebrate its world premiere at the 83rd Venice Intl. Film Festival in the Venice Open section, followed by its North American premiere at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival.
“Union Town” chronicles the lives of essential workers in New York City’s last-mile delivery industry amid a resurgence of organized labor in the city. Interweaving struggles within UPS, Amazon and the mostly immigrant app-based bike delivery workforce, the film uncovers the human face of modern labor and organizing. Filmed over the course of three years, the film asks what solidarity means in a world divided between those who have power, and those who must fight for it.
Autlook also acquired Kopple’s two Oscar-winning classics “Harlan County USA” (1976) and “American Dream” (1990) (excluding North America, Australia, New Zealand, U.K. and Ireland). The two landmark cinéma vérité documentaries were recently re-released by Janus Films in 4K restorations in theaters across the U.S.
Stephanie Fuchs, CEO of Autlook Filmsales, said, “Barbara Kopple has dedicated her entire career to giving working people a voice on screen, and ‘Union Town’ proves how urgent that voice remains. To represent all three films together is an absolute honor — and we can’t wait to bring ‘Union Town’ to the world while introducing Barbara’s work to a new generation.”
“Union Town” is produced by Kopple, Hannes Hosp and Peter Palandjian. Palandjian and Glenn Rigberg serve as executive producers.
