Mister Smith’s ‘Riddle of Fire’ Sells to Major Territories (EXCLUSIVE)
Mister Smith Entertainment has clinched first key international sales on Weston Razooli’s “Riddle of Fire.”
Among major territories, Mister Smith has closed Japan (Klockworx), France (ASC Distribution) and Spain (Flamingo Films). Deals build on a co-U.S acquisition by Yellow Veil Pictures and Vinegar Syndrome, which plan a domestic theatrical bow in early 2024, releasing the film on 35mm.
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“Riddle of Fire” has also been sold to Portugal (Leopardo Filmes), Greece (Odeon) and Femeway/The Film Group and Front Row Filmed Entertainment for the Middle East, Singapore (the Shaw Organization), ex-Yugoslavia (Blitz Film) and worldwide airlines and ships (Anuvu).
Razooli’s first feature made its debut in Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight and its North American premiere as the Toronto Festival’s Midnight Madness closing-night film.
A highlight on Mister Smith’s AFM slate, “Riddle of Fire” has additional territories in negotiations, which MSE will attempt to close in Santa Monica.
Shot on 16mm and set in Wyoming, “Riddle of Fire” is an epic adventure following three mischievous children as they embark on an odyssey when their mother asks them to find her favorite blueberry pie in exchange for letting them play their newly stolen video game.
Hunting for the pie, the children are kidnapped by an Enchanted Blade Gang of poachers, battle their ringleader, a real witch, outwit a huntsman, befriend a fairy and bond together to become best friends forever.
A first time director and a cast made up mainly of children in principle present marketing challenges, said Garrett. “From a marketing perspective, for a film such as this, you really need a bunch of three or four-star reviews, and a glittering festival run which ‘Riddle of Fire’ is having” he added.
“Riddle of Fire” was featured on the front cover of Cahiers du Cinema at Cannes. Since then, “Riddle of Fire” has became a 2023 festival favorite, screening at Melbourne, SXSW, Sydney, Hong Kong, Toulouse’s Fifigrot, Austin’s Fantastic Fest, Bergen, Lucas in Germany, Molodist Kyiv and Ghent and winning at Austria’s Slash Filmfestival, Spain’s Sitges, and Warsaw.
“Its deadpan comedy and surreal feel — somewhere between ‘Escape to Witch Mountain,’ ‘Scooby-Doo’ and ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ — make it equally appealing to kids, Gen Xers, stoners, Adult Swim watchers and fans of cult indie cinema,” Variety reported during Cannes.
The film delighted audiences in Toronto and Bergen with 35mm film screenings, Razooli enthusing reviewers for his direction.
“Razooli’s use of slow-motion, portentous zooms into close-up, hazy transitional fades, mystical narration, and bizarrely enchanted plot details all aim to conjure up fairy-tale grandeur, albeit spiked with a weirdo modern energy,” wrote Nick Shager at the Daily Beast.
Significant sales traction has followed.
“Riddle Of Fire has enchanted audiences worldwide since its Cannes debut and our international distributors have enthusiastically responded to bring Weston’s cinematic magic to their local theatres,” said Shane Kelly, Mister Smith VP, international sales and distribution.
The movie stars Lio Tipton, Charles Halford, Charlie Stover, Skyler Peters, Phoebe Ferro, and Lorelei Olivia Mote. The film is produced by Sohrab Mirmont, Weston Razooli, Lio Tipton and David Atrakchi.
Marlow Griffin Lyddon, Brendon Griffin Lyddon, David Wiener, Kate Wiener, Jay Van Hoy, Sophie Meister, and Donna Gruneich serve as executive producers.
At the AFM, Mister Smith is launching Joseph Gordon-Levitt-led “Greedy People,” and “Young Werther,” a contemporary comedic interpretation” of Goethe’s classic. Both are Variety AFM buzz titles.
“Greedy People” is described as a a darkly comic crime thriller in the vein of the Coen Brothers, from the producers of “Palm Springs” and Potsy Ponciroli, the director of “Old Henry.” “A contemporary comedic interpretation” of Goethe’s classic, Garrett said, “Young Werther” stars Douglas Booth, Alison Pill, Patrick J. Adams, and Iris Apatow, written and directed by José Avelino Gilles Corbett Lourenço.
In it, a young romantic idealist falls head over heels for a young woman. Whether he gets the girl is another matter.
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