Jordan Firstman’s’Club Kid’ Scores $17 Million Global Rights Deal From A24 After Heated Cannes Bidding War

A24 is officially taking “Club Kid” home from the afters.

Jordan Firstman‘s dramedy, an official selection of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has notched a major sale — $17 million, per three sources — after a weekend of heated bidding in the South of France. Topic Studios financed and produced the project, and A24 has taken worldwide rights to the film.

Variety was first to report that Firstman’s directorial debut was a hot ticket item following its Cannes premiere on Friday night. Mubi, Focus Features, Searchlight, A24 and Netflix were all in the race for “Club Kid,” throwing down offers in seven-figure range. The price tag quickly escalated and landed in the high-teen eight figures, multiple insiders said. UTA handled sales with an international assist from Charades.

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Firstman serves as the star as well as the director of “Club Kid,” which follows a club promoter who has long outgrown his time in the Manhattan party scene. When the 10-year-old son he never knew he had shows up at his door, he must choose to finally enter the adult world as a father or keep dancing the years away.

The film is produced by Academy Award-winner Alex Coco (Anora) and Galen Core (Lurker), alongside Topic Studio’s Ryan Heller (A Real Pain, Splitsville) and Michael Bloom. Topic Studios also financed the film with Stay Gold as co-financier. Firstman also serves as an executive producer alongside Ian Stratford, Charles Croft and Jasmine Daghighian for Topic, Olmo Schnabel, and Daniela Taplin for Stay Gold.
The film is produced by Academy Award-winner Alex Coco (Anora) and Galen Core (Lurker), alongside Topic Studio’s Ryan Heller (A Real Pain, Splitsville) and Michael Bloom. Topic Studios also financed the film with Stay Gold as co-financier. Firstman also serves as an executive producer alongside Ian Stratford, Charles Croft and Jasmine Daghighian for Topic, Olmo Schnabel, and Daniela Taplin for Stay Gold.

“Club Kid” was produced by Oscar winner

Alex Coco (Anora) and Galen Core (Lurker), alongside Topic Studio’s Ryan Heller (A Real Pain, Splitsville) and Michael Bloom. Topic Studios also financed the film with Stay Gold as co-financier. Firstman also serves as an executive producer alongside Ian Stratford, Charles Croft and Jasmine Daghighian for Topic, Olmo Schnabel, and Daniela Taplin for Stay Gold.

marks the first major sale at this year’s Cannes, one that’s notably void of Hollywood starpower or blockbuster muscle. The market has been further dampened by the fact that a significant number of titles arrived at the festival already with distribution. For example, Neon, which has won the last six Palmes d’Or, brought nine films to the table.

More to come ..

Jack Dunn contributed to this report.