EXCLUSIVE: Sasha Wortzel’s celebrated documentary River of Grass, a “luminous ode to Florida’s Everglades,” will soon reach U.S. audiences through a distribution deal with Fourth Act Film and Grasshopper Film.
Fourth Act Film is handling the American theatrical release, which will see the film open October 17 for a week-long engagement at Miami’s Coral Gables Art Cinema. That will be followed by a week’s run at New York’s DCTV Firehouse Cinema beginning October 24, with additional cities to be announced. The release, which will qualify River of Grass for Oscar consideration, will include Q&As with the filmmakers, discussion panels, and other events in each city of exhibition.
Grasshopper Film will handle the North American digital and ancillary rights to the film.
“River of Grass is a present-day reimagining of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ groundbreaking 1947 book, The Everglades: River of Grass, which forever changed the public’s perception of Florida’s wetlands from ‘worthless swamp’ to an essential ecological treasure,” notes a release. “In the wake of a hurricane, Douglas visits Wortzel in a dream, catalyzing a prismatic journey across the Everglades with Miccosukee educator and activist Betty Osceola. Interweaving Douglas’ writing, personal narration, stunning present-day verité, and rare archival footage, the film reveals how this country’s origin story haunts and inextricably shapes contemporary American life, while asking how we might weather coming storms better together.”
The debut feature documentary from Wortzel, an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker, premiered at True/False in March and has also screened at DC/DOX, Frameline, the Miami Film Festival, and Dokufest in Kosovo.
“I’m thrilled to be working with Fourth Act Film and Grasshopper Film to bring River of Grass to U.S. audiences,” Wortzel said, “particularly at a time where our environment is increasingly under attack, and the Florida Everglades have been thrust into the spotlight as our lead protagonist Betty Osceola and others organize to shut down a massive detention center known as ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’ Told through those who today call the region home, the film highlights the Everglades as a site of resistance in the face of the climate emergency, and is an invitation to connect more deeply with our environment, each other, and our collective power.”
The distribution agreement was negotiated by Mia Bruno, founder of Fourth Act Film, Ryan Krivoshey, founder and president of Grasshopper Film, and producer Danielle Varga on behalf of the film.
“River of Grass moves with the poignancy of an unforgettable dream, speaking to us with clarity and urgency, but in a voice that feels intimate and intuitive,” observed Fourth Act Film’s Mia Bruno. “The film illuminates a crisis in climate and a commitment of community, not by foisting information upon us but by awakening it within us. We’re thrilled to bring River of Grass to theaters, the perfect medium to lose oneself in this extraordinary film.”
Ryan Krivoshey of Grasshopper Film commented, “With River of Grass, Sasha Wortzel offers a luminous meditation on the fragile beauty of our world and the power of activism to shape its future. We’re delighted to partner with Sasha, Danielle, and the rest of the team to bring this film to audiences.”
River of Grass is written and directed by Sasha Wortzel (shorts How to Carry Water, This is an Address, and Happy Birthday, Marsha!), and produced by Wortzel and Danielle Varga (Seeds, A Photographic Memory, Light of the Setting Sun). The director of photography is J. Bennett (You Were My First Boyfriend, It’s Only Life After All). Rebecca Adorno Dávila (Homeroom, The Vow) and Wortzel edited the film, with consulting editors Todd Chandler, and Maya Daisy Hawke. Original music is by composer Angélica Negrón.
The post Fourth Act Film And Grasshopper Film To Handle U.S. Distribution Of ‘River Of Grass,’ Luminous Journey Through Florida Everglades appeared first on Deadline.
