NEW YORK -- Magnolia Pictures has nabbed two recent premieres from Toronto and Sundance: Wayne Wang's family drama "A Thousand Years of Good Prayers" and Trygve Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee's thriller "Red," starring Brian Cox.

The Toronto premiere "Prayers" marks Wang's return to his low-budget roots. It tells the story of a Chinese father (Henry O) seeking reconciliation with his American immigrant daughter while striking up a friendship with an Iranian woman.

In the Sundance premiere "Red," Cox plays an elderly man seeking revenge on a teen who murdered his dog. Robert Englund, Amanda Plummer and Tom Sizemore also star.

Piracy could be an issue for "Red," since Magnolia will release it via sister network HDNet's Ultra VOD program before theatrical showings in late summer. VOD airings may have hurt Magnolia's much-hyped Brian DePalma film "Redacted," which earned just $65,000 in U.S. theaters. No release plans for "Prayers" have been unveiled.

Cinetic Media and Submarine repped the filmmakers in the "Red" deal, and Bleiberg Entertainment will be repping its international sales in Cannes. Match Factory is repping "Prayer" sales.

Magnolia picks up 'Red,' 'Prayers'

Adds two festival premieres to its slate

By Gregg Goldstein

April 29, 2008, 01:00 AM