New York City-based distributor Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to Sook-Yin Lee’s Paying For It (Wildling Pictures, Hawkeye Pictures).

The film is an adaptation of Chester Brown’s 2011 graphic novel of the same name. In January, Lee made her first appearance on the Toronto International Film Festival’s Canada’s Top Ten list with the film.

Co-written by Lee and Joanne Sarazen, the semi-autobiographical film follows the end of Brown and Lee’s relationship as Brown seeks out the company of sex workers. It premiered in Canadian theatres on Jan. 31.

Paying For It stars Dan Beirne (pictured right), Emily Lê (pictured left) and Andrea Werhun.

In September 2024, Paris-based sales agent and production company Loco Films picked up world sales rights for the film, excluding Canada.

Vertical Entertainment

Santa Monica, Calif.-based Vertical Entertainment has acquired the U.S. rights to fantasy thriller The Lost Daughter from Vancouver-based prodcos Flicker Theory, Famous Red Car and Mad Samurai Productions.

XYZ Films handles North American sales for The Lost Daughter. Raquel White, Vertical’s manager of acquisitions with Pip Ngo, XYZ’s SVP of sales and acquisitions, negotiated the deal. L.A.-based Storyboard Media handles international rights.

The film is slated for a limited theatrical release early this year according to a release.

Written, directed and produced by Austin Andrews and Andrew Holmes, the film is based on Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie’s play Mary Rose. Originally titled as The Island Between Tides, the film was shot in Prince Rupert, B.C. in 2022.

The Lost Daughter is produced by Mad Samurai’s Matthew Cervi, Famous Red Car’s Holmes, Andrews for Flicker Theory and Josh Huculiak. Darren Benning, James Tocher, Michael Shepard and Adam Scorgie are executive producers.

The film follows a young woman drawn by a melody to a remote tidal island who finds 25 years have mysteriously passed after she next returns to the mainland.

Production support was provided by Telefilm Canada, Super Channel, the Canada Media Fund and Creative BC.

Quebecor Content

Portuguese premium television brand TVCine has acquired illico+ series Société distincte (Distinct Society).

The 10 x 60-minute sci-fi drama \will be available on TVCine Edition and TVCine+ in the first half of the year in its original French with Portuguese subtitles, according to a news release. TVCine is also available in Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde.

Distinct Society follows a man who attempts to prove his missing brother was abducted by aliens. Quebecor subsidiaries TVA Distribution and Incendo have worldwide distribution rights.

In January, Quebecor Content sold the first season of its crime drama Détective Surprenant: La fille aux yeux de pierre to London’s Global Series Network.

Photon Films

Toronto-based Photon Films has picked up Canadian rights to the Canada/New Zealand coproduction Holy Days.

The film marks the feature debut from South African-Canadian actor Nat Boltt, who wrote, directed and starred in the film. Based on the novel of the same name by New Zealand author Joy Cowley, Holy Days follows three older nuns who hit the road when faced with forced retirement. Production wrapped late last year.

Holy Days also stars Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes, Jacki Weaver and Elijah Tamati. Photon is planning a theatrical release, according to a spokesperson for the distributor.

Photo by Gayle Ye