After Precious was screened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in January, it was picked up for distribution by Lions Gate Entertainment and acquired promotional support from Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions and Tyler Perry's 34th Street Films. The film was co-developed by Daniels's business, Lee Daniels Entertainment, and the Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness-owned Smokewood Entertainment Group.