UK grassroots collective T A P E is moving into theatrical distribution, with the release of its first title, Miryam Charles’ debut Cette Maison.
T A P E was founded in 2015 by Isra Al Kassi and Angela Moneke, and curates screening events which respond to the lack of representation on screen. Al Kassi is also head of programmes and audience development at Birds’ Eye View, a UK organisation that campaigns to support women and non-binary people in all aspects of film.
The film was acquired from Berlin-based sales agent Oyster Films.
Cette Maison is a Haitian and French language title, that premiered at Berlin. It is the first feature from Charles, who is a Canada-based filmmaker of Haitian descent. The film is produced by Félix Dufour-Laperrière of Canada’s Embuscade Films, and will be released theatrically in the UK on November 4.
Ten years after the tragic death of a teenage girl, her cousin investigates the incident. The magical realism drama is based on Charles’ own experience of losing her 14-year-old cousin.
It stars Schelby Jean-Baptiste, Florence Blan Mbaye, Eve Duranceau and Matthew Rankin.
Al Kassi said: “Distribution is a key a part of T A P E ’s growth and development strategy, and a natural progression for us as we continue to bring underserved films to a wider audience, and to continue supporting the could-be-cult-classics at risk of slipping through the fingers of UK audiences. We look forward to building a platform where we see films and support filmmakers through from development to exhibition.”
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