3.14 to Infinity: Darren Aronofsky's π to be Re-Released in IMAX for its 25th Anniversary!

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Courtesy of Lionsgate
Back in 1998, one of my personal favorite film directors working today emerged from Sundance with his independently produced and directed π (or Pi), a psychological nightmare thriller involving a troubled neurotic mathematician tinkering with numbers trying to decode the stock market before discovering a link that’s either a scientific breakthrough or a further decent into madness and mania.  The film doesn’t tell, only letting you experience this reversal-stock black-and-white 16mm phantasmagoria in unfettered form.  Utilizing a number of wild techniques including innovative use of the Snorricam, structuralist editing and a unique sound design (albeit low budget) placing you the viewer inside the head of its troubled hero Max Cohen (Sean Gullette). 
 
The film became such a sensation at Sundance, winning the Best Director Award before winning the Independent Spirit for Best First Screenplay and the Gotham Open Palm Award.  It singlehandedly launched the career of Darren Aronofsky who swiftly followed up his sleeper hit with the devastating Requiem for a Dream which was beset by the NC-17 but went on to be even more successful than π.  In the years since, Aronofsky has gone on to direct such multimillion-dollar epics as Noah and mother! while his new A24 drama The Whale continues to enjoy critical and commercial success.  But whatever happened to π?
 
Due to a distribution deal with Sundance, Aronofsky sold π to Artisan Entertainment and then Lionsgate Entertainment where it has resided under lock and key for 25 years.  As part of the deal, once the 25 years are up, Aronofsky will retain the rights to the picture which he is now preparing an 8K negative scan and Dolby Atmos remix restoration for a 25th Anniversary IMAX re-release.  While aiming for a March 14th Pi Day anniversary celebration, it remains to be seen what if anything is coming of this new and improved version of π.  Although an odd choice for the IMAX format (who knows if they’ll agree despite giving Aronofsky’s Noah an IMAX window), π nevertheless remains a visually and sonically striking lean mean indie breakthrough that suddenly got the film world’s undivided attention.
 
In any case, stay tuned for further details and watch for Pi Day!

--Andrew Kotwicki