American Fiction
Teaser poster
Directed byCord Jefferson
Screenplay byCord Jefferson
Based onErasure
by Percival Everett
Produced by
  • Ben LeClair
  • Nikos Karamigios
  • Cord Jefferson
  • Jermaine Johnson
Starring
CinematographyCristina Dunlap
Edited byHilda Rasula
Music byLaura Karpman
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon MGM Studios
Release dates
  • September 8, 2023 (2023-09-08) (TIFF)
  • December 15, 2023 (2023-12-15) (United States)
Running time
117 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Fiction is a 2023 American comedy drama film written and directed by Cord Jefferson (in his feature directorial debut). Based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, the film follows a frustrated Black novelist and professor who jokingly writes an outlandishly stereotypical "Black" book out of spite, only for the book to be published and receive widespread fame and acclaim. It stars Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae, and Sterling K. Brown.

American Fiction premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, where it won the People's Choice Award. It is scheduled to receive a limited theatrical release by Orion Pictures on December 15, 2023, with an expansion on December 22, 2023.

Cast

Production

On November 10, 2022, it was reported that Jeffrey Wright was cast in the untitled film, based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett. Cord Jefferson would adapt the novel and direct in his directorial debut.[2][3] T-Street Productions and MRC Film are producing the film. On December 2, 2022, it was announced that Tracee Ellis Ross will also star in film with Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Sterling K. Brown, Myra Lucretia Taylor, John Ortiz, Issa Rae, and Adam Brody also cast.[4] The film wrapped production in Boston in early December. That month, MGM's Orion Pictures acquired the film's worldwide distribution rights.[5] In July 2023, with the announcement of its world premiere, the film's title was reported to be American Fiction.[6] It is the first film from Orion to be distributed through Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.[7]

Release

American Fiction premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2023, where it won the People's Choice Award.[6][8] It is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 15, 2023, with an expansion the following week (December 22, 2023).[9] The film was initially set for a November 3, 2023 release date before changing to its current date.[10] The film is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland by Curzon Film on February 2, 2024.[11]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 54 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Jeffrey Wright and American Fiction will forever be inextricable thanks to the actor's committed approach to the pointedly humorous and insightful material."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 82 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[13]

In her review for The Hollywood Reporter, Lovia Gyarke wrote that "American Fiction is smart and, thanks to its fine cast, has genuine heart", commending Wright's "subtle physicality […] that contributes depth to his character", as well as "Uggams' increasingly somber performance as Agnes and Brown’s delightful comedic turn".[14]

Accolades

Award Date of Ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Notes Ref
Toronto International Film Festival September 17, 2023 People's Choice Award American Fiction Won [15]
Heartland International Film Festival October 15, 2023 Humor & Humanity Award Cord Jefferson Won
Mill Valley Film Festival October 16, 2023 U.S. Cinema Won Shared with Rustin. [16]
Breakthrough Directing Won
San Diego International Film Festival October 21, 2023 Best Gala Film American Fiction Won [17]
Middleburg Film Festival October 22, 2023 Audience Award for Narrative Film Won [18]
Celebration of Cinema & Television December 4, 2023 Visionary Award Jeffrey Wright Won [19]
Windsor International Film Festival October 29, 2023 LIUNA People's Choice Award American Fiction Runner-up [20]
Virginia Film Festival October 29, 2023 Programmers’ Award – Narrative Feature American Fiction Won [21]
Breakthrough Director Award Cord Jefferson Won
Hollywood Music in Media Awards November 15, 2023 Original Score — Feature Film Laura Karpman Nominated [22]
Gotham Independent Film Awards November 27, 2023 Outstanding Lead Performance Jeffrey Wright Nominated [23]
Savannah Film Festival November 2, 2023 Audience Award American Fiction Runner-up [24]

References

  1. ↑ "American Fiction (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  2. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 10, 2022). "Jeffrey Wright To Star In MRC And T-Street's Untitled Cord Jefferson Film". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Cord Jefferson's adaptation of Percival Everett's novel Erasure; David Treuer on an Indigenous history of the US". www.bookforum.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (December 2, 2022). "Tracee Ellis Ross, Erika Alexander, Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae Join Jeffrey Wright in Cord Jefferson's Directorial Debut for MGM's Orion Pictures". Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  5. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (December 2, 2022). "Orion Pictures Lands 'Watchmen' Writer Cord Jefferson's Directorial Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 30, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Lang, Brent (July 24, 2023). "Toronto Film Festival 2023 Lineup Includes Alexander Payne, Richard Linklater, Anna Kendrick, George C. Wolfe and Ethan Hawke Movies". Variety. Archived from the original on July 24, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (May 8, 2023). "Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings". Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ Steve Pond, "American Fiction Wins Toronto Film Festival’s Audience Award". TheWrap, September 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 20, 2023). "TIFF People's Choice Award Winner 'American Fiction' Moves To December". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  10. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 21, 2023). "TIFF People's Choice Award Winner 'American Fiction' Moves To December". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  11. ↑ Tabbar, Mona (November 1, 2023). "Toronto audience award winner American Fiction finds UK-Ireland home (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ "American Fiction". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ "American Fiction". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ Gyarkye, Lovia (September 9, 2023). "'American Fiction' Review: Jeffrey Wright in Cord Jefferson's Clever Directorial Debut About the Black Artist's Dilemma". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  15. ↑ "'American Fiction' takes top honors at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival". EW.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ Anderson, Erik (October 17, 2023). "'American Fiction,' 'Rustin,' 'The Taste of Things,' 'Radical' Win 46th Mill Valley Film Festival Audience Awards". AwardsWatch. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "2023 Film Festival Awards". San Diego Film Festival. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ Davis, Clayton (October 23, 2023). "Cord Jefferson's 'American Fiction' Wins Audience Award at Middleburg Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  19. ↑ "The Critics Choice Association Announces Honorees for the Celebration of Cinema & Television: Honoring Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements – Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Mr. Will Wong, Toronto Entertainment Blogger". Mr. Will Wong, Toronto Entertainment Blogger. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  22. ↑ Grein, Paul (November 2, 2023). "Songs From 'Barbie' Pace 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Nominations (Full List)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  23. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (October 24, 2023). "'Past Lives,' 'A Thousand and One' and 'All of Us Strangers' Top Gotham Awards Film Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Submit Your Film | Filmfest". filmfest.scad.edu. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
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