Sony Pictures Classics Lands Stephanie Ahn’s ‘Bedford Park,’ Sundance Prize Winner for Debut Feature

Sony Pictures Classics has landed rights to Stephanie Ahn‘s feature debut “Bedford Park,” following its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. The film, starring Moon Choi and Son Sukku, also won the U.S. dramatic special jury award for debut feature earlier Friday.

The deal marks Sony Pictures Classics’ second major win out of the festival following “Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!,” which Variety announced exclusively.

In a statement announcing the acquisition, the studio praised Ahn for making “a riveting drama exuding the confidence of a master.”

“‘Bedford Park’ gives us a complete world, full of rich character and incident, steeped in the history of our current intercultural moment,” the statement continues. “This authentic story of two people in New Jersey is relatable and will resonate everywhere — a great movie that’s a pleasure to share with the world.”

The romantic drama follows Audrey (Choi), a woman who struggles between loyalty to her Korean immigrant family and her own American identity, as a child raised in New Jersey. “Her mother gets into a car accident, which leads to a fateful meeting with Eli (Son), an ex-wrestler battling his own fractured past,” the film’s logline explains. “They journey through an unexpected relationship and create a bond navigating self-preservation, cultural pressures and chosen love.” The film, written and directed by Ahn, also stars Won Mi Kyung, Kim Eung Soo and Jefferson White.

“Bedford Park” is produced by Gary Foster (for Krasnoff/Foster Entertainment), Chris S. Lee (B & C Group), Nina Yang Bongiovi (Significant Productions), Theresa Kang (Blue Marble Pictures) and Son Sukku (Stannum). Russ Krasnoff also produces.

“Sony Pictures Classics is the gold standard for thoughtful, filmmaker-driven distribution, and partnering with them on ‘Bedford Park’ is a dream outcome,” the filmmakers added. “Their impeccable taste and legacy of high-quality films that have stood the test of time make it an honor for us to join that family. SPC truly understands how to nurture intimate, human stories and help them find their audience around the world. Their belief in our film and their commitment to giving it the right platform means everything to our team.”

Executive producers include Choi, Sungwon Jee, Yoon-Hyue Julia Kim, Clara Wu Tsai, Agnes Chu, Alex Peace Power, Charles Zhong, Crystine Zhang, Charley Hine, Annie Yang, Julia Xu, Raymond Lee, Chee Ching, Nina Fialkow, Hyun Park, Lenox Huh, Oliver Hsu, Mark Gooder, Alison Thompson, Yang Jinmo, Caroline Garity, Amy Lee, Bryan Hwang, Ali Jazayeri, Viviana Zarragoitia and Stefan Klink.

The deal was negotiated between Sony Pictures Classics and CAA Media Finance in conjunction with Cornerstone Films on behalf of the filmmakers.

The Wrap first reported news of the sale.