In the first big buy out of this year’s Slamdance Film Festival, new distributor NeoClassics Films picked up worldwide rights (except Canada) for the thriller “Crooked Lane” in a mid-six-figure deal.
“Crooked” will mark NeoClassics’ first U.S. theatrical release. It’s set for a June bow in key cities around the U.S. before a platform rollout.
The film, previously titled “Portage,” is sort of a teen version of “Deliverance,” following four 14-year-old girls who encounter death and extreme adversity on a summertime canoe trip.
Sascha Drews, Ezra Krybus and Matthew Miller co-wrote and co-directed the feature. It was produced by Nicholas D. Tabarrok, Jaty Tam and Matthew Miller for Common Films under Tabarrok’s Canadian Darius Films banner. Stephanie Richardson leads the cast of newcomers.
NeoClassics, headquartered in Canada with U.S. operations based in Culver City, plans to launch theatrical distribution in Canada and the U.K. It sells all other rights to its acquisitions worldwide.
The company, headed by ICM vet Irwin Olian, initially will focus on platform releases in three to 10 key markets. Its NeoClassics label will release upscale fest-level independent fare, while its Tigertail Flix label will focus on youth- oriented and genre films.
