"Nobu": Vertical Secures North American Distribution Rights for Celebrated Documentary

Vertical has managed to secure the North American distribution rights to the lauded documentary "Nobu," directed by Matt Tyrnauer. The documentary is set to premier at the 2025 Tribeca Festival.

Based on the memoir by the renowned chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the film had its world premiere at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival. Financed and produced by Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios, the documentary traces Matsuhisa's journey from an unruly child to a promising young chef and finally presents him as he is recognised today – the man who transformed international cuisine.

Tyrnauer's exploration implicates that Matsuhisa is arguably one of the most successful chefs, having developed his own unique style of Japanese cuisine and achieving worldwide fame. His story, Tyrnauer discovers, is much more rich and emotionally stirring than previously known. After a family tragedy and initial business failures, Matsuhisa's shot to fame came relatively later in life. His culinary path began in Los Angeles's punk-food scene during the 1980s, gradually culminating in his status as a celebrity chef, with a global empire boasting one of the luxurious names in the restaurant world.

The documentary "Nobu" is set to open exclusively in New York at the Angelika Film Center on June 27, followed by a national rollout starting from July 4. The film features interviews with a legion of famous individuals including Wolfgang Puck, Robert De Niro, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Ruth Reichl, Cindy Crawford, and Rande Gerber.

Peter Jarowey, a partner at Vertical, praised Tyrnauer's skill in documentary filmmaking and eulogised the life portrayal of Nobu Matsuhisa as captivating and inspiring. He emphasised on the pairing of the masters, Tyrnauer and Matsuhisa, in the production of the film, expressing Vertical's pride in the release of such an artistic creation.

The documentary was made possible by the effort of Tyrnauer, Gianni Nunnari, Corey Reeser, Jeffrey Soros, Simon Horsman, Charlie Cohen, Andrea Lewis (serving also as editor), and Graham High. The consultative producer was Jenny Ewig, while the executive producers included Stuart Ford, Ally Gipps, Luke Rodgers, and Andrew Blau.

The negotiation of the distribution deal was handled by Jarowey and Rachel White, Manager of Acquisitions & Sales at Vertical, and Anant Tamirisa, representing AGC Studios.