IFC on buy spree at fest

'The Pact'IFC Films roared into action as Sundance wound lower, closing in on the quartet of purchases on Wednesday and Thursday. The distrib acquired comedy "Liberal Arts," horror pic "The Pact" because of its Night time division and Helps docu "How you can Survive a Plague" because of its Sundance Chooses label and was closing in on mental drama "Simon Killer." IFC acquired United States privileges to author-director-producer Josh Radnor's "Liberal Arts," that was created by financier BCDF Pictures partners Brice Dal Farra, Claude Dal Farra and Lauren Munsch, in addition to Jesse Hara of Tom Sawyer Entertainment, the management and production company he runs with Rachel Burns. "The Way I Met Your Mother" star Radnor, whose "happythankyoumoreplease" performed Sundance this year, stars like a recently single guy who returns to his alma mater for his favorite professor's retirement dinner. Elizabeth Olsen co-stars alongside Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney, John Magaro and "Twilight" thesp Elizabeth Reaser. Deal for that film was discussed by Arianna Bocco, senior Vice president of purchases and productions for Sundance Chooses/IFC Films, using the Gersh Agency settling with respect to the filmmakers. The distrib can also be in final discussions to get author-director Antonio Campos' "Simon Killer" for mid-six figures. Matt Palmieri funded the pic through his FilmHaven Entertainment and created with Campos' Borderline Films partners Josh Mond and Sean Durkin. Tune Roscher co-created. While sources caution that no deal has closed, IFC Films distributed Campos' first film, "Afterschool." "Simon Killer" stars Brady Corbet like a recent college graduate who would go to Paris and falls deeply in love with a mysterious youthful prostitute. CAA and UTA are settling the offer with respect to the filmmakers, as UTA reps the Borderline trio. Contact Shaun Sneider at shaun.sneider@variety.com