Florida was just the first stop on Zola’s epic adventure. A24 has sold international distribution rights to “Zola” to Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA). SPWA will distribute Janicza Bravo’s latest “in all territories except North America, China, and Japan. VVS films has also acquired distribution rights in Canada,” Deadline reports. The thriller made its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival last week.
Based on A’ziah King’s viral Twitter sensation, “Zola” tells the story of Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani (Riley Keough) who meet at a restaurant and “immediately click over pole dancing. Only a day after they exchange numbers, Stefani invites Zola on a cross-country road trip, where the goal is to make as much money as possible dancing in Florida strip clubs. Zola agrees, and suddenly she is trapped in the craziest, most unexpected trip of her life,” the source summarizes.
Bravo penned the script with Jeremy O. Harris. Her feature directorial debut, “Lemon,” premiered at the 2017 edition of Sundance.
When we asked the writer-director advice she’d give other women filmmakers, she said, “Being likable and/or being liked shouldn’t factor into how you get your work done. I’m not saying to be a tyrant, but the work is first,” she emphasized. “Your vision and your voice. If it fails, it’s on you. If it does well, then everybody is gonna take some of your shine. People are going to say and think whatever they want no matter how well you behave.”
If you’re in Park City, head over to Sundance’s website to check out additional screening times for “Zola.” A24 is planning a summer release for the pic.
