EXCLUSIVE: Protagonist Picks, the specialist label from sales and production outfit Protagonist, has acquired Toronto-bound hybrid documentary Modern Whore, exec-produced by Oscar winner Sean Baker (Anora).
Protagonist will launch international sales at TIFF on the movie, which is being released in North America by Quiver. Above is a first teaser for the film.
Adapted from former escort and current sex worker advocate Andrea Werhun’s memoir of the same name, Modern Whore marks the feature debut of director Nicole Bazuin, who collaborated with Werhun on the memoir, and whose photography was featured prominently in the book.
The feature reimagines popular depictions of sex work through the lived experiences of writer, performer, and sex worker, Werhun. Based on her book Modern Whore: A Memoir, she grapples with social stigma and reclaims her narrative in a series of funny, heartbreaking, and surprising stories.
The film is produced by Lauren Grant of Clique Pictures (Sugar Daddy), along with Werhun and Bazuin under their production banner Virgin Twins. Executive producers are Jeff Sackman and Berry Meyerowitz for Quiver Distribution, along with James J. Yi, Amir Endalah, Terry King, John Laing, Mark Gingras, Alex Kingsmill, Martha Loewen, and Justin Stockman.
“At Protagonist Picks, we’re drawn to stories that are fearless and unforgettable, and Modern Whore is exactly that,” said Ivars. “Nicole and Andrea have created a film that is at once hilarious, and profoundly important in the way it reframes and reclaims sex worker narratives. It’s provocative in the best way and destined to spark conversation. We’re excited for the world premiere and to introduce the film to our partners at TIFF.”
“We couldn’t ask for better champions than Protagonist Picks and Quiver. Their belief in Modern Whore means the world to us, and TIFF is the perfect place to launch a conversation we hope ripples far beyond the festival,” added Bazuin.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Nicole Bazuin, Andrea Werhun, Lauren Grant, Sean Baker and the rest of the remarkable team behind Modern Whore,” commented Quiver co-presidents Berry Meyerowitz and Jeff Sackman. “We can’t wait for audiences to experience the film when it world premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival, and we’re delighted to be collaborating with the fantastic team at Protagonist Picks in bringing this powerful, groundbreaking documentary to global audiences.”
Launched at Cannes 2025, label Protagonist Picks “offers a mix of premium handpicked features, documentaries, and episodic programming”.
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