Neon has acquired world rights to twin filmmakers Aly and Chuco Esiri’s “Clarissa.”
Shot on 35mm film in Lagos and Delta states, Nigeria, the film stars Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda), David Oyelowo (Selma), India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear) and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso, Industry).
Neon will release the film theatrically in the United States, and Neon International will represent the film’s international sales.
“Clarissa” is a modern reinterpretation of Virginia Woolf’s novel “Mrs. Dalloway,” in which socialite Clarissa (Okonedo) prepares to host a party at her home in Lagos, Nigeria, where she unexpectedly meets some of her closest friends from her youth. As the group reflects on their shared past overnight, memories of their complicated relationships, passionate love, hidden desires, and lost aspirations create a bittersweet reckoning.
The screenplay was written by Chuko Esiri, and the film was co-directed and produced by Arie and Chuko, along with producers Theresa Park of Per Capita Productions and Nicholas Weinstock of Invention Studios. Nina Gold and Thomas Bassett are co-producers, and executive producers include Sophie Okonedo, Dolly Omodolapo Kola-Balogun, Osahon Okunbo, and Jason Leaf.
They produced, wrote and directed Esiri’s debut feature Aimofe (This Is My Desire), which won five awards at the African Film Academy Awards. The film was released by Janus Films and is now part of the Criterion Collection.
Production financing for filming in Nigeria was provided entirely by Africa-based Afreximbank’s CANEX Creations Inc. (CANEX).
The acquisition and distribution agreement was negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers by Kate Gondwe, Neon’s Director of Acquisitions, Development and Production, and UTA Independent Film Group.
Neon’s upcoming releases include Oliver Lucks’ “Sirat,” Matt Johnson’s “Nirvana: The Band: The Show, The Movie,” and Baz Luhrmann’s “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.”
