FilmBuff Bags Rights To ‘We The People: The Market Basket Effect’, Sets Spring Release

EXCLUSIVE: FilmBuff has picked up U.S. rights to We the People: The Market Basket Effect, an only-in-America documentary about employees and customers fighting a billion-dollar company. The distributor will open the film in theaters starting April 14, followed by a VOD release April 22.

Directed by Tommy Reid, The Market Basket Effect documents the epic battle in which billion-dollar New England-based corporation Market Basket was brought to its knees by 25,000 employees and 2 million consumers standing together to support its ousted CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas, who was embroiled in a bitter family dispute over the company. When his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, ousted “Artie T.” in 2014 to focus on a bottom-line, profit-first mentality, employees loyal to their CEO — who was known for his strong leadership ethics and fair treatment of employees — came to his defense. They organized a boycott of the chain to demand Artie T’s reinstatement.

“This doc is as entertaining as it is inspiring,” said FilmBuff’s Janet Brown. “It’s an incredible American story, but the themes it touches upon – the power of people coming together for something they believe in – transcend national boundaries.”

Michael Chiklis narrates The Market Basket Effect, which Jeff Pinilla wrote. Producer Nick Buzzell and his father/business partner Mike Buzzell grew up in New Hampshire and frequented Market Basket. Ted Leonsis, another producer on the film, worked at one of its stores. Robert Friedman, Paul Nero and Tommy Reid also produced, with Mike Buzzell and Todd Hoffman as exec producers.