The Making of Quixote

[bruttenholm]

If you have some skills in law speech, you can check the judgement in appeal for the case of Recorded Pictures against Paulo Branco in the UK, it states clearlishly where the problem between Branco and the producers lies : http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2018/767.html
What I understood (and to make it short) is that Recorded Pictures Company granted an option on the screenplay to Paulo Branco's society Alfama films in 2016. When things went south between Gilliam and Branco in august 2016, Recorded Pictures decided not to renew the option and let it expire so that they could grant it to another producer in october 2016. BUT for Branco, this expiration date isn't valid : indead a contract clause ("clause 16") extends the option automatically in case of legal dispute. The legal dispute being the parting ways of Gilliam and Branco in the first place, Branco and the justice consider that his option whas still valid at the time Recorded Pictures granted it to another producer.
I hope it's clear...
Though 1)the justice in UK recognized that Branco have rights on the film but in France the judgement in appeal hasn't been pronounced yet and 2)Another matter entirely is whether those judgements mean Branco can stop the exploitation of the film.

I don't think it has anything to do with the current incarnation of the film, Branco obviously feels Gilliam owes him for his 4 months of service.

Actually the contract specified that Gilliam gave up his copyrights in favor of Branco so Branco is paid by the royalties of the film... But then I don't know what happens with the other producers who were surely granted the same kind of deal... The rights can't belong to 2 companies at once, and you have to wonder at which sum Branco would settle when being paid in royalties could mean big bucks....

As for Amazon not screening the footage, I thought A24 had bought into the US Distribution?

P.S : For Amazon and A24, I read that the deal was actually A24 partnering with Amazon studios to release the film. Neither one company or the other talked about the film in the last weeks though.