Clemency now has a release date! NEON, who acquired the film after its Sundance bow, will release it in theaters  Dec. 27, 2019.

The Alfre Woodard-toplined film won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize in January, making its director, Chinonye Chukwu, the first Black female director to win the top prize in the festival’s history.

Clemency stars Woodard as a prison warden who comes face to face with her guilty conscience when she is tasked with putting an inmate (Aldis Hodge) to death. Wendell Pierce, Danielle Brooks, Richard Schiff, and LaMonica Garrett also star in the film. Along with directing, Chukwu also wrote the movie’s screenplay. Currently, the film holds a rare 100 percent fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Oscar buzz has been brewing for both Woodard and Hodge and an extensive awards season campaign should be expected. Indie distributor NEON found success in 2017 with I, Tonya, which earned Oscar nominations for actresses Allison Janney and Margot Robbie.

Deadline first reported this acquisition news.

 

READ MORE:

NEON Acquires Chinonye Chukwu’s Sundance Award-Winning Film ‘Clemency,’ Starring Alfre Woodard

Chinonye Chukwu Reflects On Her Masterfully Haunting Drama ‘Clemency’ [Sundance Interview]

Black Excellence: Chinonye Chukwu Becomes First Black Woman To Win Sundance’s Highest Award

 

Photo: NEON