Starz Digital Media Buys Rights to George Takei Documentary TO BE TAKEI, Headed for SXSW

Heading into the annual SXSW festival, Starz Digital Media has snagged the rights to the film, To Be Takei. The documentary about pop-culture icon George Takei premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival and was directed by Jennifer M. Kroot (It Came from Kuchar). The company has acquired all rights for U.S. and Canada. The company will distribute with a theatrical release planned for 2014. The announcement was made today by Kevin Kasha, Head of Acquisitions for Starz.

"George has become a true icon who gracefully moves from comic conventions to Congressional hearings," commented Kasha. "To Be Takei takes us into George's life in a witty, familiar and delightful way. Starz is pleased to share his inspiring story with audiences."

"We're extremely thrilled to partner with Starz Digital Media on To Be Takei," said Kroot on behalf of the filmmaking team. "They understand and embrace George's diverse audience and we know that the film is in great hands." To Be Takei is an entertaining and moving look at the many roles played by eclectic 76-year-old actor/activist George Takei whose wit, humor and grace has allowed him to become an internationally beloved figure and internet phenomenon with over 6-million Facebook likes. It balances unprecedented access to the day-to-day life of George and his husband/business partner Brad Takei with George's fascinating personal journey, from his childhood in a Japanese-American internment camp, to his iconic and groundbreaking role as Sulu on "Star Trek," to his current gig as "Official Announcer" of "The Howard Stern Show." The film shows what it truly means To Be Takei.

To Be Takei features interviews with "Star Trek's" William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig, as well as journalist Dan Savage and popular radio host Howard Stern. The film is a Rainbow Shooting Star Pictures and Dodgeville Films production and was directed by Jennifer M. Kroot, edited and co-directed by Bill Weberand produced by Gerry Kim & Mayuran Tiruchelvam. The deal was negotiated for the filmmakers by Josh Braun, David Koh and Dan Braun of Submarine Entertainment and attorney Lisa Callif of Donaldson + Callif.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski