AMC Theatres Lands Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Doc ‘Kiss the Future,’ Sets U.S. February Release

Pamela McClintock
·2 min read
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AMC Theatres is continuing its foray into the distribution business following Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour and Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.

The world’s largest cinema circuit revealed Wednesday it has pacted with Fifth Season to release the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck-produced documentary Kiss the Future in the U.S. The acclaimed film chronicles the vibrant underground music scene during the Siege of Sarajevo and U2’s involvement, culminating with the band’s 1997 concert there.

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Unlike the Beyoncé and Swift concert films, Kiss the Future will play exclusively in select AMC locations. The film, which will receive a full theatrical run beginning Feb. 23, will stream later this year on Paramount+

Directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain and also produced by Sarah Anthony, the doc is based on Bill Carter’s memoir Fools Rush In, a story of how a vibrant underground community used music and art to effect change during the Bosnian War’s Siege of Sarajevo. These efforts inspired an American aid worker to enlist U2 to further raise awareness about the devastating conflict.

Kiss the Future — featuring U2’s Bono, The Edge and Adam Clayton; journalist Christiane Amanpour and former President Bill Clinton, among others — follows U2’s promise to play to over 45,000 local fans in the liberated city of Sarajevo.

“The powerful message of peace is as relevant and important today as it was in September 1997 when Bill Carter and Sarajevan community leaders brought U2 to post-war Sarajevo,” said Matt Damon, who is producing the doc via Artists Equity, the banner he runs with Affleck.

Added Cicin-Sain, “Even in the darkest times, the people of Sarajevo were able to find purpose through playing music, making art and helping others.”

AMC will host an early screening on Feb. 21 that will include an introduction by Damon and Affleck, as well as a Q&A featuring Vesna Andree Zaimovic and Carter in conversation with U2’s The Edge and Clayton.

Fifth Season, which financed the film, is handling global distribution on the title, in addition to making the domestic theatrical distribution deal with AMC. WME co-represented domestic rights.

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