“Sing Sing” and “Jockey” filmmakers Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley have signed with CAA for representation.
The award-winning filmmakers’ most recent feature, “Sing Sing,” a prison-set drama, stars Emmy winner Colman Domingo and features a supporting cast that includes Oscar nominee Paul Raci, but is comprised primarily of formerly incarcerated individuals. The film is directed by Kwedar, co-written by both, and produced by Bentley, with its story inspired by the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York.
“Sing Sing” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was acquired by A24, in a competitive situation, with the deal brokered by CAA Media Finance.
Kwedar and Bentley’s previous narrative collaborations include “Jockey” and “Transpecos,” both starring Clifton Collins Jr. “Jockey” marked Bentley’s directorial debut, helmed from a script the pair co-wrote and Kwedar produced. The film made its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where Collins Jr. – as an aging jockey grapping with failing health and the unexpected arrival of a young man who claims to be his son — won the Special Grand Jury prize for best actor. Released by Sony Pictures Classics, “Jockey” also won AFI’s Audience Award and was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards (the John Cassavetes Award and Collins Jr. for best male lead).
In turn, “Transpecos” marked Kwedar’s directorial debut, helmed from a script the duo co-wrote and Bentley produced. The film — about a trio of border patrol agents who encounter a drug cartel — won the the SXSW Audience Award in 2016, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at the Nashville Film Festival, and made its international premiere at the Deauville Film Festival; “Transpecos” was released by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
Kwedar is also an accomplished documentary filmmaker, with credits including “Rising From Ashes,” which he produced about the first Rwandan National Cycling Team’s journey to the Olympics; “Ghost Fleet,” where he served as co-producer on the film about slavery in the Thai fishing industry; and “Running With Beto,” which won the 2019 SXSW Audience Award and was released by HBO.
In addition to CAA, the filmmakers continue to be represented by Joanne Wiles at Black Bear Management, Adam Kersh at Fusion Entertainment and attorney Tara Kole at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP.
