A number of women-helmed projects have found homes in recent days. A24 acquired North American distribution rights to Claire Denis’ English-language debut, “High Life”; Netflix snagged Anne Fletcher’s beauty queen dramedy “Dumplin”; The Film Arcade secured U.S. rights to Laura Steinel’s Taylor Schilling-starrer “Family”; and Mangurama and BOBB Films scored U.S. and Canadian theatrical distribution rights for Abby Epstein’s cannabis documentary “Weed the People.”
Set in space, Denis’ sci-fi “High Life” centers on a group of criminals traveling on a spaceship who have been “tricked into believing they will be freed if they participate in a mission towards a black hole to find an alternate energy source, while undergoing sexual experiments by the scientists on board,” Variety summarizes. The pic just made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Robert Pattison (“Good Time,” “Twilight”), Juliette Binoche (“Let the Sunshine In”), Mia Goth (“A Cure for Wellness”), and André Benjamin (“American Crime”) star. French filmmaker Denis’ credits include “Beau Travail,” “35 Shots of Rum,” and “White Material.”
“Patti Cakes$” breakout Danielle Macdonald joins Jennifer Aniston in Fletcher’s “Dumplin,” which is set for release later this year on Netflix. The story about the teen daughter of a former beauty queen who signs up to participate in her mom’s pageant will also hit select U.S. theaters, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “The Proposal,” “27 Dresses, and “Step Up” are among Fletcher’s previous credits.
Steinel’s “Family” offers a portrait of an an aunt (Schilling, “Orange Is the New Black”) tasked with babysitting her 12-year-old niece (Bryn Vale). The emotionally-stunted woman’s life begins to unravel when her niece runs away to party with”Juggalos,” AKA super fans of the Insane Clown Posse. A press release announced that the comedy will hit theaters in spring 2019.
“We were immediately drawn to the film as it is not only funny, but centers around the importance of self-confidence and acceptance. We are excited to be working with Laura to help bring her fresh and unique voice to audiences around the country,” said The Film Arcade’s Jason Beck.
Directed by Epstein (“The Business of Being Born”) and exec produced by Ricki Lake, “Weed the People” makes the case for medical cannabis as a human rights issue. The doc explores how parents of children with cancer have resorted to obtaining cannabis oil from underground sources to help treat their kids, and why the government doesn’t want people to access this form of treatment.
“We are thrilled to be working with Mangurama on the theatrical release of our documentary, ‘Weed The People,'” said Epstein and Lake in a press release announcing the sale. “Following in the footsteps of ‘The Business of Being Born,’ which changed the way Americans looked at childbirth, we hope that ‘Weed The People’ will humanize the controversy around medical cannabis. As our film reveals, access to this plant has become a human rights issue.”
“Weed the People’s” nationwide rollout will begin October 26 in NY and November 2 in LA.
Both “Family” and “Weed the People” made their world premieres at SXSW 2018.
