Writer/director Kyle Patrick Alvarez has signed with Chelsea Pictures for exclusive U.S. and international representation for commercials and branded content projects. This past January, Alvarez made his latest trip to the Sundance Film Festival, premiering The Stanford Prison Experiment, based on the infamous Stanford University social research experiment conducted in the 1970s. Featuring an ensemble cast (Tye Sheridan, Olivia Thirlby, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, Billy Crudup), the film went on to win two awards at Sundance–the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award (for Tim Talbott). Additionally The Stanford Prison Experiment was nominated for Sundance’s Grand Jury Dramatic Prize.
Alvarez made his directorial debut, Easier with Practice, which in 2010 won him the “Someone to Watch” Award at the Independent Spirit Awards, also earning a Best First Feature nomination at that competition.
His sophomore film, C.O.G., premiered in competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and was the first film ever based on a short story by author David Sedaris. C.O.G. was awarded the “Best New American Cinema” award at the Seattle Film Festival and was released by Focus Features.
“We have been a fan of Kyle’s films since we first saw Easier with Practice,” said Chelsea co-owner and EP Lisa Mehling. “At Sundance in January we were blown away by The Stanford Prison Experiment and knew the timing was right to introduce Kyle and his work to the advertising community.”
Alvarez said, “I love the world of advertising and am excited to take my first steps into it, especially alongside the incredible company of filmmakers that work at Chelsea. I am inspired by the work they create.”
