Harvey Weinstein courtesy Rita Molnar (cc-by-sa-2.5,2.0,1.0)

Jonathan Sehring, President of IFC Films, announced today that the company has acquired worldwide rights (excluding Canada, although it was acquired in Toronto by a Canadian) to Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Project, Barry Avrich’s documentary about the legendary co-founder of Miramax Films.

Unauthorized is an uncensored account that traces Weinstein’s path from concert promoter in frigid Buffalo to his first trip to the Cannes Film Festival, where he arrived with one pair of pants and closed his first movie deal, to winning an Oscar®, and breaking the bank with his first $100 million film. It examines his complex relationships with his brother, his staff, and the Hollywood community at large and features interviews with industry insiders.

Unauthorized was produced and directed by Barry Avrich, creator of the well-received story of Lew Wasserman, The Last Mogul, and producer of the upcoming The Tempest with Christopher Plummer.

“I believe that great stories must be told,” Avrich said, still a pitchman.  “Harvey and Bob Weinstein, without a question, redefined so many rules of Hollywood marketing, distribution and filmmaking that you simply can’t ignore their impact on history. Avrich continued, without aid of teleprompter, re-rewriter or taking a breath.  “Many of their business principles and strategies also redefined other industry practices and quite frankly, other industries.  Without Hollywood’s “Last Bully”, there would be no Pulp Fiction, no one would have known about that English patient, Rob Marshall would still be a chorus boy and Quentin would be recommending Bruce Lee’s greatest hits in some video store.”