Sean Baker’s screwball comedy “Anora,” which took home the prestigious Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, has a release date locked in. Neon, the film’s distributor, has announced a theatrical release beginning October 18th, 2024.
Anora” follows the story of a young sex worker who becomes romantically involved with the son of a wealthy Russian oligarch. This fall release positions the film strategically for awards season consideration. Neon has a history of successful fall releases for Palme d’Or winners, including “Parasite” (2019), “Triangle of Sadness” (2022), and “Anatomy of a Fall” (2023).
Baker, known for his critically acclaimed low-budget features that explore the lives of marginalized individuals, has garnered recognition with films like “The Florida Project” and “Red Rocket.” “Anora” seems poised to continue this trend, bringing Baker’s signature style to a comedic tale of love and societal disparity.
Currently, at a Rotten Tomatoes score of 98%, Anora is one of the best-reviewed movies of the year. Justin Chang from New Yorker says, “Baker’s multifaceted love for his characters proves infectious and sustaining, as does his belief that acts of unexpected kindness can redeem even the darkest nights of the soul,” while Esther Zuckerman of The Daily Beast says, “The film is very funny until it punches you in the gut with a beautiful ending, and it entirely rests on Madison’s performance as the tough-as-nails Anora.”
Before its Cannes debut and subsequent Palme d’Or win, Neon secured the rights to “Anora,” a film that is set in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. Baker produced the project alongside Samantha Quan and Alex Coco. FilmNation holds the global distribution rights for “Anora,” which features Mikey Madison in the lead role alongside Mark Eydelshteyn, Yuriy Borisov, Karren Karagulian, and Vache Tovmasyan. This international cast adds another layer of intrigue to Baker’s latest film.
