Ed Oxenbould and Melissa George in ‘The Butterfly Tree.’
Writer-director Priscilla Cameron’s debut feature The Butterfly Tree will be released in cinemas in the US, the UK and Russia following deals announced at the American Film Market.
Gravitas Ventures acquired the US rights and Eureka Entertainment bought UK rights to the coming-of-age drama which stars Melissa George, Ewen Leslie, Ed Oxenbould and Sophie Lowe.
Produced by Bridget Callow-Wright, the tale of a widowed father and his teenage son who fall for the same woman will get a simultaneous limited theatrical and on-demand release in the US and UK.
There will be a conventional theatrical release in Russia/CIS via Kinologistika/NDPlay. Malaysian satellite broadcaster Astro bought South East Asian rights and Estin Film took Estonian rights. Tine Klint’s Scandinavian sales outfit LevelK expects to close more deals at the AFM.
“In an exceptionally tough international marketplace, it’s fantastic to be making strong international sales across key territories,” Callow-Wright tells IF. “I think it’s a sign of how much excitement there is from international audiences in Australian creative and on screen talent.”
Vendetta Films will launch the film, which screened in the Discovery section of the Toronto International Film Festival following its Melbourne International Film Festival premiere, on November 23.
The producer expects the film to go out on as many as 25 screens plus pop-up event screenings and bookings via cinema-on-demand platform FanForce.
The film has scored three AACTA Award nominations, including Ewen Leslie as best lead actor, best original screenplay and best original music score.