Indie Film From Beyoncé ‘Lemonade’ Collaborator Pulled From Sundance by Irate Financier Over Director’s Alleged ‘Secret’ Cut (EXCLUSIVE)

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A film produced independently, which was scheduled to debut at this week’s Sundance Film Festival, has been removed from the schedule by its funder, EbMaster has obtained exclusive information. The benefactor claims that the movie’s director covertly edited a new version of the film, this unauthorized edit being used for international film festival entries and to attract critics without informing the owner.

As a film enthusiast, I’m eager to share my thoughts on “Blknws: Terms & Conditions,” a captivating piece that was selected in Sundance’s Next category and masterfully directed by Kahlil Joseph, who also contributed to Beyonce’s visual album “Lemonade.” Unfortunately, it seems that Participant, the once-vibrant social impact studio, invested years and substantial resources into this mixed-media project, only to find themselves overlooked when a new version of the feature was released.

In a formal message from an attorney, authenticated by EbMaster, the Participant expressed surprise upon discovering last Friday that Joseph was privately showing a revised version of the film to critics at talent agency CAA, which had reportedly been done in secret. The letter also claimed that Joseph exploited this new cut to secure access to the Berlin Film Festival.

Since Mr. Joseph handed over the movie to Participant in November 2024, with Participant understanding that it was the final version of the film, it is utterly unjustifiable for Mr. Joseph to keep claiming he wants to make further changes to the movie,” the letter states. As the primary producer, Participant holds the copyright to the film. Three years ago, A24, a prominent indie studio, joined as a co-investor and distributor. However, they withdrew in August of last year because Kahlil had yet to deliver his final cut of the movie.

In a conversation with EbMaster, a representative from Sundance expressed their disappointment after being informed by Participant tonight that they are withdrawing ‘BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions’. They also mentioned that the film is a vibrant and engaging cinematic journey which they were eager to share with their audience this coming Friday.

The participant remained silent on the issue, only referring to a statement issued by their legal representative. Joseph’s team, known for directing short films and music videos for artists like Kendrick Lamar and FKA Twigs, did not respond promptly to our request for comment.

Joseph’s movie is marketed as a daring blend of emotional and visual depth, characterized as “a continuous work of art that challenges the boundaries between art, journalism, business, and cultural analysis, utilizing the newsreel style to redefine modern cinema.” The film is spearheaded by Shaunette Renée Wilson, known for her roles in “Billions” and “Black Panther.”

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Joseph’s movie is being promoted as a bold combination of emotional intensity and visual flair. It’s described as an evolving piece of art that mixes elements of art, journalism, entrepreneurship, and cultural criticism, using the newsreel style to reinvent contemporary cinema. The film is led by Shaunette Renée Wilson, best recognized for her roles in “Billions” and “Black Panther.

A person knowledgeable about the situation surrounding the controversial CAA screening on January 17th mentioned that two high-ranking Participant officials were present. They also pointed out that the differences between the latest and approved edits amount to approximately a minute. Two separate sources verified that the issue at hand for Participant revolves around legal clearances, which are common in film distribution and typically involve watching the movie itself. It’s been noted by many industry insiders close to this situation that films premiered at festivals often remain works in progress.

It might seem surprising that a participant in the recent movie controversy is connected to Jeff Skoll’s studio, which officially stopped its regular operations back in April, according to EbMaster’s exclusive report. Now, it operates as a holding company for assets from the Participant library, such as “Blknws: Terms & Conditions.

The participant found it especially frustrating because they had been incredibly patient with and supportive of Mr. Joseph, yet he was asked to submit the final version of the movie in June 2022, which is over two and a half years ago. Despite this long wait, the participant has invested millions of dollars in helping Mr. Joseph realize his vision for the film.

The note provides insight into the challenging journey behind the production of a film, which, it must be said, faced significant obstacles due to the ongoing pandemic (COVID-19) and the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.

Read the full Participant letter below.

https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25500270-kahlil/

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2025-01-22 10:16