MSNBC Films Acquires French Artist JR’s Documentary ‘Paper & Glue’ Ahead Of Tribeca Film Festival Premiere

Anthony D'Alessandro
·3 min read

EXCLUSIVE: In a highly competitive acquisition situation ahead of the documentary’s Tribeca Festival premiere, MSNBC Films has picked up Paper & Glue from Imagine Documentaries, Impact Partners, TIME Studios, and Shark Island.

The feature is a project by acclaimed French artist JR, whose known for giving a global voice to everyday people through a genre-blending combination of public art, photography and large format spectacle. In the docu, JR turns the camera on his own work as he builds some of his most monumental projects. From early illicit graffiti videos captured on Paris rooftops at night, to the US-Mexico border, to the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, to a current collaboration at a California supermax prison, the movie follows JR as he turns these communities inside out, turning images of residents into eye-catching and immersive art installations. Paper & Glue follows the Oscar-nominated Faces Places, which was directed by JR along with Agnès Varda.

More from Deadline

Paper & Glue will debut at Tribeca on Saturday, June 19. A theatrical release is planned for this fall, followed by a MSNBC primetime premiere in January 2022.

“JR is a visionary, and we are proud to present his thought-provoking work that challenges perspectives and unites communities under the revitalized MSNBC Films banner,” said MSNBC President Rashida Jones. “We are so thrilled to partner with Imagine and present cross-cultural storytelling to our audience.”

MSNBC recently hired Amanda Spain as VP of Longform Acquisitions to develop MSNBC Film’s longform strategy and build a slate of documentaries that will air on the network beginning this fall. In 2020, MSNBC Films, NBC News Studios and Focus Features presented The Way I See It, which became the highest-rated non-news program in MSNBC history.

“I have been a longtime viewer and fan of MSNBC,” said Amanda Spain, VP of Longform Acquisitions for MSNBC Films. “I’m excited to bring Paper & Glue to MSNBC. We hope to continue bringing premium documentaries of this quality to our network.”

“New York has served as the backdrop and inspiration of many of JR’s most iconic activations, making Tribeca the perfect premiere for Paper & Glue,” said Imagine Documentaries’ Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes, jointly. “We’re excited to partner with MSNBC Films, who share our passion and admiration for JR’s art in its ability to magnify and unite communities globally.”

“It’s the first documentary about my work that takes you inside my process and reveals the process that allows these projects to impact communities,” said JR.

Paper & Glue is produced by Imagine Documentaries’ Sara Bernstein and Justin Wilkes, Dallas Brennan Rexer, and Marc Azoulay. Imagine’s Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are EPs with Impact Partners’ Jenny Raskin, Geralyn White Dreyfous and Lauren Haber. The film is produced in association with TIME Studios and Shark Island Institute, with Lynne Benioff, Marc Benioff and Ian Orefice executive producing for TIME and Ian Darling for Shark Island Institute. Also executive producing are Jim & Susan Swartz, Patty Quillin and Regina K Scully. Imagine’s Meredith Kaulfers is co-EP, along with Paula Froehle, Steve Cohen and Nina & David Fialkow.

Upcoming releases for Imagine includes Who Are You Charlie Brown?, a celebration of the life and work of on Charles Schulz (AppleTV+); Gossip, a limited series chronicling Cindy Adams’ four-decade career at the New York Post as the “reigning queen of gossip” (Showtime); Julia, a documentary on legendary chef Julia Child, directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West (Sony Pictures Classic); Black and Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong (AppleTV); and Ron Howard’s next documentary feature film on chef Jose Andres and the World Central Kitchen organization (National Geographic Films).

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Man sets himself on fire outside Donald Trump hush money trial in New York

    People rushed to douse the person with a fire extinguisher and try to bat the flames away, according to reports

  • Major water users in southern Alberta agree to curb consumption in face of drought

    CALGARY — More than three dozen major water users in southern Alberta have agreed to voluntarily curb their consumption if there's a severe drought this spring or summer. The province announced Friday that municipalities, irrigation districts and industry players have signed memorandums of understanding covering four sub-basins — the Red Deer River, the Bow River, the mainstem of the Oldman River and upper tributaries of the Oldman. The deals are billed as the biggest of their kind in Alberta's

  • A Sneak Peak Into the Finances of Elon Musk’s SpaceX

    In 2002, Elon Musk launched SpaceX -- a groundbreaking company designed to reduce the cost of space travel, create commercial spaceflight, and develop a sustainable colony on Mars. Since its...

  • Met Police says 'openly Jewish' term used in arrest threat was 'deeply regrettable'

    Gideon Falter was wearing a kippah skull cap when he was stopped from crossing the road near a pro-Palestine march in London

  • Nvidia Sinks, Exposing 8 'Secrets' For When To Sell Stocks

    As top growth stocks like Nvidia fall below key moving averages, keep in mind these proven rules for when to sell stocks.

  • Bug season is coming: Prepare with this top-selling $15 indoor fly trap that uses zero chemicals

    Swap the swatter for an insect-buster that has over 16,000 shoppers buzzing.

  • Lazio up to sixth in Serie A after win at Genoa

    GENOA, Italy (AP) — A second-half goal from Luis Alberto gave Lazio a 1-0 win at Genoa on Friday and moved the capital club into sixth spot in Serie A and within touching distance of a Champions League spot. The result snapped Genoa’s four-game unbeaten run and was another good result for a visitor which has won four of its last five league games. Lazio was one place and one point ahead of Atalanta, which has two games in hand. The top five teams in Serie A are guaranteed a place in next year’s

  • Man Utd confirm Jason Wilcox as technical director in boost to transfer plans

    Manchester United have confirmed the appointment of Jason Wilcox as technical director in a huge boost to the club’s summer transfer planning.

  • Columbine survivors can’t believe that the shootings haven’t stopped 25 years later

    Since 1999, the name of a Colorado high school has been tragically enshrined in the public consciousness – and has become synonymous with mass shootings. But those left reeling by the massacre at Columbine have watched in horror as mass shootings are replicated over and over again across the US, writes Sheila Flynn

  • History with Maple Leafs could help Bruins snap short playoff slump

    BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins may have found just the solution to their playoff slump: A first-round matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins haven't lost a playoff series to Toronto since 1959, winning six straight series that have helped extend their Original Six rival's Stanley Cup drought to more than half of a century. Boston won all four regular-season matchups with the Leafs during the regular season — all motivation, no doubt, for Toronto to turn things around. “I think just wi

  • Alberta spring signals another Oilers-Kings NHL playoff showdown

    EDMONTON — There are a few sure signs of spring in Alberta. The snow turns to slush, the Canada geese return to the ponds, lakes and streams, and the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings face each other in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. The two rivals will meet in the first round for the third season in a row, with the Oilers looking to make it a hat trick of victories. The Oilers rebounded from a 3-2 series deficit to win a seven-game thriller two seasons ago. In 2023, the

  • Startups Weekly: Is the wind going out of the AI sails?

    Welcome to Startups WeeklySign up here to get it in your inbox every Friday. The report highlights a notable decrease in both private and corporate investments in the AI sector for the second consecutive year, with overall investments dropping by 20% in 2023 compared to the previous year, Kyle reports. Despite this general downturn, certain segments like generative AI continue to attract significant funding, indicating a selective yet substantial interest in specific AI applications.

  • Best Buy Power Up Sale: Score up to 75% on top tech until Sunday — from Apple, Sony and more

    Save 100s on laptops, tablets, appliances and more during Best Buy's big sale.

  • Tesla Semi trucks in short supply for PepsiCo as its rivals use competing EV big rigs

    Key Tesla customer PepsiCo made initial payments for 100 Tesla Semis in 2017, intending to use the electric-truck fleet to haul its Cheetos, Lays potato chips and Pepsi soda pop to retailers. But according to the food-and-drinks maker and one of its executives with knowledge of the deal, PepsiCo was using only 36 of Teslas promised 100 electric trucks as of this month. The shortfall, which hasn't been previously disclosed, lays bare the challenges for Tesla as it seeks to become a high-volume player in the truck-manufacturing business.

  • Viewer video shows aftermath of Stuart police pursuit

    WPTV has obtained viewer video that shows the aftermath of a Stuart police pursuit that ended in a fatal crash.

  • Emma Raducanu beaten by Iga Swiatek but Briton on upward trajectory

    A resurgent Emma Raducanu played some of her best tennis in recent memory but fell short in a compelling quarter-final battle against world number one Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open.

  • Mets release New York-inspired City Connect jerseys

    Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz and senior MLB analyst Jordan Shusterman react to the newly released New York Mets City Connect jerseys that pay homage to Queens and New York City. Hear the full conversation on the “Baseball Bar-B-Cast” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.

  • World leaders call for calm after Israel 'hits back' at Iran with targeted strike near nuclear facility

    A senior Iranian official says there are no plans to respond against Israel, according to reports

  • IPO Stock Of The Week: Cava Stock Looks For Support At Key Level

    Cava stock: The Mediterranean restaurant leader is one of the best stocks to watch right now, looking for support at a key level.

  • MasterCraft Boat, SentinelOne, and More Stocks See Action From Activist Investors

    Coliseum Capital increased its stake in boat maker MasterCraft. Insight Venture Partners sold shares of cybersecurity firm SentinelOne.