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Nick Vivarelli
International Correspondent
@NickVivarelli See All
Rafael Leyva/Courtesy WME The William Morris Endeavor Agency has taken world sales on “Reeling,” a first feature from Italian-American Yana Alliata. The film is executive produced by Werner Herzog and premiered in March at the SXSW Film Festival.
“Reeling,” which bowed in the narrative feature competition at SXSW, takes place during a birthday luau weekend on the Hawaiian island of Oahu where Ryan, a young man struggling with memory loss following an accident, attempts to reconnect with his family. The dark drama stars Ryan Wuestewald, Hans Christopher and Nikki DeParis. Executive producers are Herzog, Thomas Kosasa and Nicole MacNaughton.
As previously announced, indie distributor Future of Film Is Female, in partnership with Neon, debuted the film in the U.S. theatrically on March 18 at Los Angeles’ Los Feliz American Cinematheque with a national expansion to follow. Tribeca Films, the distribution label from Tribeca Enterprises and Giant Pictures, will handle digital distribution, bringing “Reeling” to VOD platforms in July following its U.S. theatrical run.
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WME Independent has now boarded “Reeling” to represent world sales.
In a statement, Alliata underlined that “Werner Herzog’s encouragement from script to screen has been invaluable” and said the storyline for “Reeling” stems from her personal experience.
“I was at my best friend’s annual birthday luau over the holidays. A bunch of my family and friends and I were home in Hawaii, and the events from that day inspired the film that would then be shot one year later in that same location,” Alliata noted. ‘”Reeling” comes from a deeply personal place, growing up on Oahu and wanting to tell a psychological drama about family, memory and the reconstruction of masculinity.”
She added: “Partnering with WME Independent for sales allows the film to find audiences across the globe and share a story rooted in local Hawaiian experiences.
Alliata co-wrote the “Reeling” screenplay with Amy Miner. She is now developing a horror ghost thriller set in Hawaii, which she will both write and direct.
Watch the exclusive trailer for “Reeling” below.
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