Kino Lorber announces that it has acquired U.S distribution rights for Daniel Vernon’s “The Changin’ Times of Ike White.” There will be an exclusive virtual sneak preview screening of the feature-length documentary available for U.S. audiences through Knitting Factory Entertainment on Tuesday, December 1, followed by wide release theatrically in virtual and physical theaters on Friday, December 4.

Serving a life sentence for murder in the early 1970s, music prodigy Ike White had plenty of time to perfect his musical talent, but no hope of putting it to use in the outside world. Ike’s skills were exceptional enough, though, that his story captured the media’s attention. From this notoriety, he was able to record an album inside the prison with big-time producer Jerry Goldstein (War, Sly and the Family Stone). Superstar Stevie Wonder lobbied successfully for Ike’s early release from prison. With an acclaimed album under his belt and the support of Wonder and others in the industry, Ike was poised for stardom. But, instead, he went off the grid for over 40 years. Daniel Vernon’s mesmerizing new documentary is unpredictable and moving, echoing the strange journey of Ike White and scored with tracks from his one released album.

“The Changin’ Times of Ike White” was negotiated by Kino Lorber SVP Wendy Lidell and Vesna Cudic, Head of Sales & Acquisitions at MetFilm Sales.

Lidell said, “Discovering Ike White and his music was a revelation for me. Daniel Vernon tells a poignant story of Ike’s unbelievable life, which will fascinate audiences and certainly gain him a new legion of fans.”

After “The Changin’ Times of Ike White” release, the film will be available for streaming on KinoNow.com and home video in 2021. Directed by Daniel Vernon, Produced by Vivienne Perry and Rachel Hooper and co-produced by Lana Goodman.

Daniel Vernon
Daniel is a multi-award winning documentary filmmaker, a graduate of the prestigious NFTS. In 2007, the BBC commissioned Daniel’s first film, ‘The Man Who Eats Badgers’, which he produced, directed and filmed himself. He won the BAFTA award for Break-through Talent in 2008 and since then he’s been commissioned to make films for the BBC, Channel 4 and Netflix. His last BBC series ‘The Detectives – Murder on the Streets’ won an RTS award and was nominated for a BAFTA. The Changin’ Times of Ike White’ is Daniel’s first feature documentary. Daniel is currently directing a feature documentary for Netflix and developing a series for HBO.

Kino Lorber
With a library of over 4,000 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent art house distribution for 35 years, releasing 30 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Repertory and Alive Mind Cinema banners, garnering seven Academy Award® nominations in nine years. In addition, the company brings over 350 titles yearly to the home entertainment and educational markets through physical and digital media releases. With an expanding family of distributed labels, Kino Lorber handles releases in ancillary media for Zeitgeist Films, Greenwich Entertainment, Artsploitation, Palisades Tartan, Menemsha Films, Raro Video, and others, placing physical titles through all wholesale, retail, and direct to consumer channels, as well as direct digital distribution through over 40 OTT services including all major TVOD and SVOD platforms. In 2019, the company launched its new art house digital channel Kino Now which features over 1000 titles from the acclaimed Kino Lorber library. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kino Marquee initiative was launched in 2020 pioneering “virtual theatrical” releases of art house films with revenue shares that allows audiences to support almost 400 local independent theaters.

Knitting Factory Entertainment
Founded in 1987 with its first venue opening in New York City, Knitting Factory Entertainment (www.knittingfactory.com) is a creative producer, manager and distributor of universal music content, film/TV and theatrical events. Today, Today, KFE comprises: The Federal gastropub in Los Angeles; three Knitting Factory concert venues; partnerships with Boomtown Brewery, The Regent Theatre and Arrive Hotel Palm Springs; a partnership with The Buckhead Group in five restaurants and bars; and is currently develop a Coors Field-adjacent property in Denver into three brand-new bar and restaurant concepts: El Tejano, Loaded, and Smash Face Brewery & Tap Room with Filmore Capital Partners.

KFE boasts partnerships with Brooklyn-based indie label Partisan Records; Knitting Factory Management; Selby Artist Management; Giant Step Marketing and Media, and the Connect Group. KFE also owns the tastemaker web property, The Talkhouse.

KFE’s national touring and promotions arm Knitting Factory Presents has also expanded its footprint. Booking national acts across multiple states including, but not limited to Memorial Stadium, Idaho and Big Sky Brewery Amphitheatre in Montana, these two venues present approximately 25 shows and serve more than 100k fans outdoors annually. KFP also serves Slowdown, NE; The Myth, MN; Criterion OKC, OK; and Elevation 27, VA, as a talent buyer. Other partnerships have also included Rachel Ray’s Feedback in Chicago, Hortons Hayride in California, the Maha Festival in Omaha, the Desert Daze Festival in Moreno Valley, CMoore Concerts in the Pacific Northwest, and many others.