Sundance 2022 wrapped simply over every week in the past, however competition favorites proceed to search out houses. Utopia has landed U.S. rights to “Sharp Stick,” Lena Dunham’s first function since 2010 SXSW winner “Tiny Furnishings,” and Focus Options, Peacock, and Monkeypaw Productions snagged worldwide rights to “”Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul.,” Adamma Ebo’s function debut. Press releases introduced the acquisitions.
Utopia plans to launch “Sharp Stick,” the story of a naïve 26-year-old caregiver (Kristine Froseth) who has an affair along with her married employer (Jon Bernthal), later this yr. Jennifer Jason Leigh and “Zola” breakout Taylour Paige co-star within the pic, which Dunham wrote and directed.
“I’ve been so impressed with how shortly Utopia has established itself as a courageous and dedicated voice in unbiased and experimental movie,” stated Dunham. “They don’t cower from uncommon or divisive work, they usually have utter respect for the filmmakers’ voice, and I couldn’t really feel luckier to be releasing ‘Sharp Stick’ beneath their auspices.”
The “Ladies” creator is an eight-time Emmy nominee. Up subsequent for the multi-hyphenate is “Catherine, Referred to as Birdy,” a movie adaptation of Karen Cushman’s youngsters’s novel set in thirteenth century England.
Peacock will stream “Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul” day-and-date with Focus’ theatrical launch later this yr. The comedic satire sees Regina Corridor (“Assist the Ladies”) enjoying the primary woman of a Southern Baptist megachurch that’s being rocked by a scandal involving her husband (Sterling Ok. Brown).
“I used to be raised Southern Baptist in the course of the top of booming megachurch tradition, and I saved discovering myself inside this tug of battle between what was being preached and what actions had been being proven,” Ebo instructed us.“The complicated feelings that got here from my need to each go away all of it behind and cling to the facets of organized faith that I discover stunning and galvanizing continued to take a seat proper within the pit of my abdomen, so I made a decision to get it out one of the best ways I understand how — write.”
Different women-directed options that secured distribution after world premiering at Sundance this yr embrace Sara Dosa’s “Fireplace of Love,” a documentary charting the love story of two French scientists, and Chloe Okuno’s “Watcher,” a psychological thriller a couple of girl who suspects she’s being stalked.
Supply: Women And Hollywood