Sideshow & Janus Films have acquired the North American rights to Mexican director Lila Avilés’ family drama totem after its world premiere in competition last week at the Berlinale.
The film is Avilés’ second film after his award-winning feature debut The servantwhich debuted in Toronto in 2018 and then toured international festivals before being selected as Mexico’s Oscar entry.
totem stars newcomer Naíma Sentíes as a seven-year-old girl navigating the strange atmosphere of a special surprise party for her dying artist father, from whom she feels temporarily estranged.
Other cast members include stars Montserrat Marañon (bardo), Marisol Gasê, Saori Gurza, Mateo Garcia Elizondo, Teresita Sanchez (The servant, Dos stations), Francisco Maldonado, Iazua Larios and Alberto Amador.
The photo was produced by Tatiana Graullera, Avilés and Louise Riousse.
“We were fans of Lila Avilés’s The servantbut we were not prepared for the overwhelming emotional response we would receive totem,said Sideshow and Janus Films.
“This cheerful and exuberant film is a real discovery that will attract people to the theater. It also confirms that Avilés is one of the most exciting new young directors today. We couldn’t be more excited to work with her and her team to bring this film to American audiences.”
The sales partners are planning a theatrical release later this year.
“We made totem with a lot of care and passion, and I’m lucky to have a distributor who shares our love of cinema. totem couldn’t be in better hands,” said Avilés
The deal was negotiated by Alpha Violet with Janus Films and Sideshow on behalf of the filmmakers. The film is produced by Limerencia Films, Laterna, Paloma Productions and Alpha Violet.
Sideshow and Janus Films currently have Jerzy Skolimowski’s Oscar hopeful E.O upon publication.
This film just passed $1 million at the North American box office and is also streaming exclusively on Criterion Channel, which first teamed up with Sideshow and Janus Films for the Oscar-winning film drive my car.
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
