Jimmy Carter Doc ‘The President And The Dragon’ Acquired By Buffalo 8 — Cannes

Matt Grobar
·2 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: Buffalo 8 has acquired worldwide rights out of Cannes to The President and the Dragon, a Jimmy Carter documentary from Sudanese writer, director and producer Waleed Eltayeb and Irish director-cinematographer Ian D. Murphy.

The film watches as the former U.S. President, a motley crew of public health veterans, ex-child soldiers, and local volunteers traverse political minefields, treacherous terrain, and bloody civil war to chase after an ancient parasite, uniting with the goal of eradicating Guinea worm disease. Produced by Touchline’s Shaun McGuckian and Eltayeb, and co-produced by Brave Road’s Andrew Bishop (ESPN’s 26.2 To Life) and Tim Byron Owen (The Matchstick Man), the film is a testament and dedication to all the Guinea worm warriors and those working on the frontlines to end the suffering caused by the horrific, water-borne disease.

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A parasitic infection caused by the roundworm Dracunculus medinensis, Guinea worm disease primarily affects poor communities in remote parts of Africa that lack safe drinking water. Jimmy Carter has played a pivotal role in the fight against the disease through The Carter Center, the non-profit organization he founded in 1982 alongside his wife, Rosalynn.

“Eradicating Guinea worm disease and the suffering it causes has long been a dream of my grandparents, and they have worked incredibly hard to make it a reality,” said Jason Carter, Carter Center board chair and eldest grandson of former U.S. President Carter and the late First Lady Rosalynn Carter. “They witnessed firsthand how this work improves the lives of millions of people, and The Carter Center will keep working with our partners until there are zero cases.”

Stated Eltayeb, “This is an extraordinary account, with some of the most colorful characters, incidents, and backdrops imaginable. It is a story of hope and the enduring power of the human spirit, poignant and relevant today more than ever, and I’m excited that we are partnering with Buffalo 8 to share it with the world.”

Added Buffalo 8’s Head of Distribution, Nikki Stier Justice, “We are incredibly proud to partner with Touchline and The Carter Center to bring this compelling and historically significant film to a global audience.”

The President and the Dragon marks the second Buffalo 8 acquisition out of Cannes that we’ve reported on this week. Previously, the company snapped up the darkcomedy INT.HALLWAY/NIGHT, directed by and starring Billy Zane.

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