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Tribeca 2011: ‘Limelight’ documentary will head to theaters

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Another Tribeca Film Festival title has sold, with Magnolia Pictures snapping up worldwide rights to ‘Limelight,’ the story of the controversial nightspot of the same name and Rudolph Giuliani-era New York.

Billy Corben, who previously helmed Magnolia’s drug-wars doc, ‘Cocaine Cowboys,’ directed ‘Limelight.’ The talking-head picture tells of Peter Gatien, the eyepatch-wearing nightclub impresario, and his emergence as the owner of legendary clubs Limelight and Tunnel just as Ecstasy and the rave culture were coming into vogue, as well as his subsequent battles with law enforcement.

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Gatien eventually pleaded guilty to tax evasion and was deported to his native Canada. Gatien’s daughter Jen is a producer on the film.

The movie will open theatrically in August, Magnolia said in a statement. The company made the announcement ahead of the film’s Tribeca premiere on Friday night.

The acquisition marks the second festival documentary acquired by Magnolia -- the company previously picked up the culinary doc ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi,’ about a legendary Japanese sushi chef.

RELATED:

Tribeca seals a deal on Dutch slasher movie

-- Steven Zeitchik in New York
twitter.com/ZeitchikLAT

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Photo. Peter Gatien in ‘Limelight.’ Credit: Tribeca Film Festival

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