The film was not accepted by the Sundance Film Festival , but was scheduled for sale in January 2013 by William Morris Endeavor . It was also publicly rejected by SXSW citing they had " quality issues " with the film , which enraged director Paul Schrader , who was very proud of his final film . IFC Films bought the rights to distribute the film theatrically , accompanied by a special screening at the Film Society of Lincoln Center ( on July 29 , 2013 ) featuring a conversation session with director Paul Schrader and the film critic/New York Film Festival Program Director Kent Jones . It was released on August 2 , 2013 in the United States at the IFC Center in New York City , the Bell Lightbox in Toronto , and on video on demand platforms . It was shown in the out of competition section at the 70th Venice International Film Festival . The film was also featured on the cover of the July/August 2013 ( Volume 49/Number 4 ) issue of '' Film Comment '' Magazine , featuring a full centerpiece article on the film 's production . The issue also featured an article , by Schrader , on the hardships and merits of working with Lindsay Lohan
70th Venice International Film Festival
70th Venice International Film Festival
The Canyons (film)