The People’s Joker has been picked up by Altered Innocence for North America after being pulled from TIFF due to “legal issues”.

After watching her DC inspired film debut The people’s jokes Pulled from TIFF 2022 due to what the festival called “right-wing issues,” Vera Drew has secured a North American release for the film through LA-based indie distributor Altered Innocence.

A dark mixed media comedy inspired by Drew’s personal life. The movie will premiere on April 5, 2024 at the IFC Center in New York. Additional markets and exposures will be announced at a later date.

In the film, co-written by Drew and Bri LeRose, which reimagines the origin story of iconic Batman villain The Joker, Drew’s painfully unfunny aspiring clown struggles with her gender identity as she unsuccessfully tries to fit into Gotham City’s only comedy show in a world , where comedy is banned. Joined by a team of outcasts and misfits, Joker the Harlequin forms an illegal anti-comedy group that puts them on a collision course with the arrogant crusader who controls the city.

In addition to guest appearances by notable personalities such as Tim Heidecker, Bob Odenkirk, Maria Bamford and Scott Aukerman, the film’s main cast also includes Lynn Downey, Nathan Faustyn and Kane Distler. Joey Lyons produced alongside EPs Richie Doyle, Conor Hannon and Riccardo Maddalosso.

Although the eye-catching title made it into TIFF’s Midnight Madness section immediately after its premiere, the title made its US premiere at this year’s Outfest LA Film Festival, where it received a Special Mention in the North American Narrative Feature Competition . .

In a statement about People’s jokes After the acquisition, Frank Jaffe, founder of Altered Innocence, noted that “Vera Drew used her own life experiences and traumas to create a whole new genre of film with the film” “pushing the boundaries between documentary, coming-of-age film and parody shifts .” fade in. Jaffe continues, “We couldn’t be more excited to champion this bold, intelligent and hilarious piece of queer cinema that audiences around the world have fallen in love with.”

For her part, Drew said she was “absolutely thrilled.” The people’s jokes hits theaters next spring, courtesy of Altered Innocence. “This film started as a DIY community project for queer artists and I made it with my friends to process what it was like to come out as a trans woman in the film and television industry,” she said. “It was a long road to liberation The people’s jokes and to find a release plan that stays true to the weird, anarchic spirit we had when we created it. What better home than Altered Innocence’s catalog of beautifully gay and deliciously racy films?”

While it’s not clear exactly what was done to free the film from the rights issues that plagued it at TIFF, the team behind the project was careful to emphasize that the film was “in no way created by, endorsed by or is not affiliated with DC.” “. . Comics or any of its affiliates.”

Jaffe negotiated the deal for Altered Innocence with UTA and Rise Management on behalf of the filmmakers.