In case you’ve missed it, filmmaker Abel Ferrara and IFC Films have been in a war of words that has recently escalated. The director contends that IFC won’t release the directors cut of “Welcome To New York,” starring Gerard Depardieu. IFC insists they’ve done no wrong and plan to screen the version of the film they’ve been contractually obligated to show all. Here’s the just released official statement on the matter:
At IFC Films, we place high priority on our relationships with filmmakers and want to address the controversy and drama around the film Welcome to New York, which has now expanded beyond the scandalous story depicted in the movie. We want to set the record straight about our role as the U.S. distributor of the film.
Our contract with Wild Bunch (the film’s sales agent ) is for an R-rated version. We offered Mr. Ferrara an opportunity to edit his own R-rated version of the film at our expense, but he did not respond. After his threats of violence towards the IFC Center last September, we decided we could not risk showing the film there, but we offered to screen his original directors cut at the Anthology Film Archives theater in New York. It is our understanding that the theater was in touch with Abel Ferrara, after which they declined to screen it.
On March 27th, we will be releasing on VOD and in select theaters the version of Welcome to New York that has been delivered to us by Wild Bunch, in accordance with our contractual obligation. Any edits made to the original version of Welcome to New York were made by Wild Bunch, since Mr. Ferrara did not respond to our offer.
It’s a core mission of IFC Films to support and champion our filmmakers and we regret that Mr. Ferrara has refused to engage with us past slinging mud and insults. We’d have welcomed the opportunity to work more closely with him on the film, if he’d been willing.
A filmmaker that hasn’t read the fine print or read his emails? Aiming his vitriol at the wrong people? It sounds fairly simple, but we’re sure we haven’t heard the last of it.
I missed Ferrara\’s own response to this (under the "SEE ALL COMMENTS" button), so I see my points were discussed and addressed there (in a somewhat less concise way). But even if IFC needed an R-rated cut for Showtime, the question still stands: why are they not releasing the original cut sans MPAA rating via theaters and VOD? Why is IFC apparently allowing Showtime to determine the only version of the film that gets released in this country?
Both versions are included on the UK Blu-ray, so you can compare them right now if you\’re so inclined. As for IFC, a rather glaring problem with their defense is that they talk about the contractual obligation for an R rating as though IFC\’s hands were tied or something. It\’s been just a few months since they put out THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY with no MPAA rating, and indeed that isn\’t at all uncommon for IFC. (Other recent examples: THE BABADOOK, WYRMWOOD: ROAD OF THE DEAD, BACKCOUNTRY, BIRD PEOPLE, and OCTOBER GALE.) Why the hell did their contract for this call for an R rating when they obviously have no problem bypassing the MPAA? Did they seriously think this was going to play in big chain multiplexes that don\’t show unrated films? They\’re perfectly happy to release schlock like ALIEN OUTPOST and THE PACT II uncut and unrated, but Abel Ferrara doesn\’t warrant the same treatment? I don\’t get it.
Abel Ferrara doesn\’t make R rated movies ??
“. . . our contract with Wild Bunch (the film’s sales agent) is for an R-rated version.”
There is a reluctance on ifc’s publicist or whoever is respossible for this letter to deny the personal relationship i have with arianna bocco and jonathan sehring of ifc. They were both at the premiere in cannes and the press conference afterward with gerard, myself and vincente maraval so they are well aware of all the political and artistic issues here. They are sidestepping the issue that they knowingly are distributing an unauthorized version of the film.
“We offered Mr. Ferrara an opportunity to edit his own R-rated version of the film at our expense, but he did not respond.”
There were many emails back and forth and face to face meetings with ifc where i was told they would only distribute the r rated cut that was needed for showtime. That is where it became an issue for the lawyers. The precedent here is, 1, I dont make r rated movies and i certainly would not have pursued this subject matter with gerard depardieu if there were any constrictions to the making or exhibition of it. 2, ifc and wild bunch are both companies that handle unrated films, thats why i am with them. Ifc theatres and their vod outlet is known for there un rated releases, nymphomaniac, blue, 444, etc. As for violence against there theatres those comments were metaphorical, i am an artist and a buddhist so fire bombing theatres is not on my agenda.
“It’s a core mission of IFC Films to support and champion our filmmakers and we regret that Mr. Ferrara has refused to engage with us past slinging mud and insults. We’d have welcomed the opportunity to work more closely with him on the film, if he’d been willing.”
If you support and champion a filmmaker you distribute his movie as he intended not “work closely” in an attempt to change his or her film and by doing so change the politics and message the filmmakers are expressing.
". . . our contract with Wild Bunch (the film’s sales agent) is for an R-rated version."
There is a reluctance on ifc\’s publicist or whoever is respossible for this letter to deny the personal relationship i have with arianna bocco and jonathan sehring of ifc. They were both at the premiere in cannes and the press conference afterward with gerard, myself and vincente maraval so they are well aware of all the political and artistic issues here. They are sidestepping the issue that they knowingly are distributing an unauthorized version of the film.
"We offered Mr. Ferrara an opportunity to edit his own R-rated version of the film at our expense, but he did not respond."
There were many emails back and forth and face to face meetings with ifc where i was told they would only distribute the r rated cut that was needed for showtime. That is where it became an issue for the lawyers. The precedent here is, 1, I dont make r rated movies and i certainly would not have pursued this subject matter with gerard depardieu if there were any constrictions to the making or exhibition of it. 2, ifc and wild bunch are both companies that handle unrated films, thats why i am with them. Ifc theatres and their vod outlet is known for there un rated releases, nymphomaniac, blue, 444, etc. As for violence against there theatres those comments were metaphorical, i am an artist and a buddhist so fire bombing theatres is not on my agenda.
"It’s a core mission of IFC Films to support and champion our filmmakers and we regret that Mr. Ferrara has refused to engage with us past slinging mud and insults. We’d have welcomed the opportunity to work more closely with him on the film, if he’d been willing.”
If you support and champion a filmmaker you distribute his movie as he intended not "work closely" in an attempt to change his or her film and by doing so change the politics and message the filmmakers are expressing.
abel ferrara“At IFC Films, we place high priority on our relationships with filmmakers and want to address the controversy and drama around the film Welcome To New York, which has now expanded beyond the scandalous story depicted in the movie. We want to set the record straight about our role as the U.S. distributor of the film.
. . . our contract with Wild Bunch (the film’s sales agent) is for an R-rated version.
there is a reluctance on ifc\’s publicist or whoever is respossible for this letter to deny the personal relationship i have with arianna bocco and jonathan sehring of ifc. They were both at the premiere in cannes and the press conference with gerard myself and vincente maraval so they are well aware of all the political and artistic issues here. They are sidestepping the issue that they knowingly are distributing an unauthorized version of the film.
We offered Mr. Ferrara an opportunity to edit his own R-rated version of the film at our expense, but he did not respond.
There were many emails back and forth and face to face meetings where i was told they would only distribute the r rated cut that was needed for showtime. That is where it became an issue for the lawyers. The precedent here is one, i dont make r rated movies and i certainly would not have pursued this subject matter with gerard depardieu if there were any constrictions to the exhibition of it. Two, ifc and wild bunch are both companies that handle unrated films, thats why i am with them. Ifc theatres and their vod outlet is known for there un rated releases, nymphomaniac, blue, 444, etc. As for violence against there theatres those comments were metaphorical, i am an artist and a buddhist so fire bombing theatres is not on my agenda.
It’s a core mission of IFC Films to support and champion our filmmakers and we regret that Mr. Ferrara has refused to engage with us past slinging mud and insults. We’d have welcomed the opportunity to work more closely with him on the film, if he’d been willing.”
If you support and champion a filmmaker you distribute his movie as he intended not work closely in an attempt to change the politics and message the filmmakers are expressing.
abel ferrara
the movie sucked anyways so who cares. Ferrara = has-been
after watching both versions the differences are Depardieu pontificating about his soul and a scene where he sexually assaults a journalist after insinuating he knows her mother very well
there are two versions available to buy on dvd right now. 125 min at amazon dot co dot uk and 122 min at amazon dot fr
Death To IFC! Long Live Ferrara!