HBO Documentary Films Acquires U.S. TV Rights to SXSW Doc 'The Central Park Effect'

HBO Documentary Films has acquired domestic TV rights to Jeffrey Kimball's The Central Park Effect, which had its world premiere in competition at the 2012 SXSW Film Festival. The film will debut on HBO over the summer.

our editor recommends

The Central Park Effect: SXSW Review

PHOTOS: The Scene at SXSW 2012

Effect looks at the wide array of wild birds that come in and out of Central Park throughout the year, as well as the New Yorkers who track and observe them. The film focuses on seven main subjects and features Chris Cooper, Catherine Hamilton, Jonathan Franzen and others. Kimball also produced the Other Noises production; Pamela Hogan and Tom Casciato are executive producers.

Josh Braun of Submarine Entertainment negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers.

“HBO is the ideal home for The Central Park Effect and gives us the ability to tell an important story to millions of people,” said Kimball. “Even though it’s set in the middle of New York City, this is a story about people’s connection to nature. It’s important for us to realize that as the world becomes more urbanized, nature doesn’t have to entirely disappear from cities.”

HBO Documentary Films picked up domestic TV rights to A Matter of Taste: Serving Up Paul Liebrandt, which screened at the 2011 SXSW fest.