EXCLUSIVE: Independent studio Levantine Films will immediately be known as August Night.
The first project slated for release under the August Night banner is Maude Apatow’s feature directorial debut Poetic License which is making its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Pic, which stars Leslie Mann, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Nico Parker, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, and Maisy Stella, follows two inseparable best friends, Sam and Ari, who start to unravel as they compete for the affection of Liz, the middle-aged mom auditing their college poetry workshop. Judd Apatow produces.
“Since 2009, we’ve been fortunate to create numerous films that have sparked conversation and earned recognition around the world,” said CEO Benjamin Hung. “Under our new banner of August Night, we will build upon that foundation, broadening our scope while staying true to the kind of bold, meaningful storytelling that has always defined our work. We look forward to embarking on an ambitious new era for our company.”
The new banner positions the shingle to diversify its content slate as it pursues new genres and expands into TV with an eye toward commercially viable and character-driven stories for wide audiences.
Levantine Films’ canon includes the multi-Oscar nominated feature Hidden Figures, starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe; Cary Fukunaga’s Peabody Award winner Beasts of No Nation, starring Idris Elba; The Fundamentals of Caring, starring Paul Rudd and Selena Gomez; Bruce Springsteen musical comedy Blinded by the Light, from BAFTA nominee Gurinder Chadha; and Jerry and Marge Go Large, starring Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening, from Oscar winner David Frankel. The company’s most recent release was Roshan Sethi’s acclaimed A Nice Indian Boy, starring Karan Soni and Emmy-nominated Tony and Grammy winner Jonathan Groff.
August Night was founded in 2009 by Jamal Daniel, a globally recognized producer, entrepreneur, and innovator. In addition to executive producing every project for the company, Daniel has over 35 years of experience managing investments across media and entertainment, hospitality, real estate, and technology. Hung joined August Night as CEO in 2024, his previous experience including senior positions at MRC, DMG Entertainment, Marvel Studios, and Sony Pictures.
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