IFC Films Acquires Ethan Hawke’s ‘Born to Be Blue’

IFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to Born to Be Blue, starring Ethan Hawke as legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker.

Written and directed by Robert Budreau, the film follows the musician late in his life, after years of fame and drug abuse have taken their toll. He stages a comeback, hoping to regain the success he first found when he became a jazz icon in the 1950s. Carmen Ejogo and Callum Keith Rennie also star.

Born to Be Blue, a mix of factual and fictional events, world premiered Sept. 13 at TIFF.

The film was produced by Jennifer Jonas, Leonard Farlinger, Jake Seal and Budreau and executive produced by William G. Santor, Adam Moryto, Mark Slone, Gurpeet Chandhoke, Stefan Jacobs, Patrick Roy, Christina Kubacki, Terry Bird, John Hills and Andrew Chang-Sang.

“We are thrilled to be working once more with Ethan Hawke, who delivers one of the best performances of his career in Budreau’s profoundly moving film,” says Jonathan Sehring, president of Sundance Selects/IFC Films

Hawke’s performance as the music icon was praised in THR‘s review: “He gives an unshowy and vanity-free performance, all soft-spoken mischief and brittle arrogance, but laced with just enough blood, sweat and tears.”

The deal for the film was negotiated with CAA and Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.