Lionsgate and independent studio Willa will release Andrew Durham’s “Fairyland” in theaters on October 10, marking a domestic rollout for the Sundance 2023 drama produced by Sofia Coppola. The coming-of-age film is adapted from Alysia Abbott’s memoir and follows a father and daughter in 1970s-80s San Francisco as the AIDS crisis reshapes their lives. The deal, finalized this month, positions the film for a fall berth nearly two years after its festival premiere.
Emilia Jones and Scoot McNairy lead an ensemble that includes Maria Bakalova, Geena Davis, Cody Fern, Bella Murphy and Adam Lambert. The film traces the bond between Abbott and her father, poet and activist Steve Abbott, against a backdrop of social change and personal loss. “Fairyland” premiered at Sundance and later screened at festivals including Frameline, where it opened the event, as well as Palm Springs and Biarritz.
As part of the release, Willa will mount an impact and audience engagement campaign tied to the film’s themes. “With ‘Fairyland’, Durham has crafted a deeply affecting film that brings relevant social issues to life with authenticity and heart,” Willa founder and CEO Elizabeth Woodward said, adding that the company is “excited to be partnering with Lionsgate” on distribution. Lionsgate executive Amelia McPartlon Rogers called the film “a sharp, funny, moving portrait of identity, resilience and coming of age.”
The project originated at American Zoetrope, which acquired screen rights to Abbott’s book and developed the film with Coppola before Durham made his feature directorial debut. Willa, a mission-driven distributor led by Woodward, specializes in socially focused releases and previously spearheaded campaigns around independent titles. The partnership with Lionsgate gives “Fairyland” studio support while retaining an impact strategy often favored by smaller distributors.
