NEW YORK, NY (FEBRUARY 13, 2024) – Metrograph Pictures announced today that it has acquired North American rights to GOOD ONE, one of the most exciting discoveries at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Already poised to be one of the year’s most critically acclaimed indie breakouts, GOOD ONE, which had its world premiere in the U.S. Narrative Competition section, is the highly accomplished feature debut from writer and director India Donaldson. It stars newcomer Lily Collias, whose performance was universally praised by critics, alongside James Le Gros (Showing Up, Drugstore Cowboy) and Danny McCarthy (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, HBO’s “Somebody, Somewhere”). This marks the first title acquired by Metrograph Pictures since their recent expansion into theatrical releases under the leadership of former A24 executive David Laub, who now heads distribution for the new studio growing out of Metrograph’s iconic New York theater.  The film will receive a national theatrical release in summer 2024. CAA Media Finance and Feig Finkel LLP negotiated the deal with Metrograph Pictures on behalf of the filmmakers.  

A funny, grounded, and profoundly sympathetic portrait of teenage girlhood, GOOD ONE topped festival highlights across the board, being named by Vogue as a “favorite film of the festival” and hailed by Rolling Stone as “exactly the type of humanistic, character-heavy and emotionally resonant movie that we come to Sundance to see.” Tomris Laffly, in Harper’s Bazaar, writes, “GOOD ONE announces the arrival of a wonderful new voice in writer-director India Donaldson. Sundance breakout star Lily Collias brings to mind discovering Jennifer Lawrence or Thomasin McKenzie in Debra Granik’s movies.”

The film was produced by Diana Irvine, Graham Mason, India Donaldson, and Wilson Cameron, with Sarah Winshall of Smudge Films and Neil Champagne, Veronica Diaferia, and Sara Eolin of Tinygiant executive producing.  Taylor Williams served as the casting director. 

In India Donaldson’s insightful, piercing debut, 17-year-old Sam (Collias) embarks on a three-day backpacking trip in the Catskills with her dad, Chris (Le Gros) and his oldest friend, Matt (McCarthy). As the two men quickly settle into a gently quarrelsome brotherly dynamic, airing long-held grievances, Sam, wise beyond her years, attempts to mediate. But when lines are crossed and Sam’s trust is betrayed, tensions reach a fever pitch, as Sam struggles with her dad’s emotional limitations and experiences the universal moment when the parental bond is tested.   

Of the film, Variety critic Guy Lodge said “[Lily] Collias impresses” and James Le Gros is “superb” while The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney wrote “Lily Collias is a luminous discovery.” IndieWire’s David Ehrlich gave the film a Critic’s Pick, championing it as an “extraordinary coming-of-age drama”. 

Filmmaker India Donaldson says, “I am incredibly thrilled to be partnering with Metrograph Pictures to get GOOD ONE out into the world. I’ve discovered countless treasures through Metrograph’s programming, and David Laub has shepherded so many artists and films that have deeply shaped me as a filmmaker. I am so proud to work with this remarkable team and couldn’t think of a better home for my first feature.” 

David Laub, Head of Metrograph Pictures, says, “India Donaldson has made a superb, delicate, and exquisite first feature, whose stunning emotional power stealthily sneaks up on you.  This is exactly the type of project we want to support at Metrograph Pictures - a high-quality, intimate and beautifully evocative work with a deeply personal and original vision that has the ability to connect with a wide range of audiences.  We’re excited and honored to be putting GOOD ONE out into the world, harnessing our resources to create the best and most meaningful release possible.”

Christian Grass, CEO of Metrograph, says, "We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to release India Donaldson’s wonderful Sundance breakout as our first acquisition under David’s new leadership of Metrograph Pictures.”