Festival Hit Documentary ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’ Picked Up by Level 33 (EXCLUSIVE)
“Chasing Chasing Amy,” a documentary feature which has played at over 75 film festivals and featured on The Popcorn List of outstanding undistributed films, has been picked up for world sales by Level 33 Entertainment.
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The film explores the complex legacy of Kevin Smith’s 1997 cult classic movie “Chasing Amy” on LGBTQ+ people and its life-saving impact on Sav Rodgers, who makes his feature-length directing debut with the documentary. The film explores the transformational impact of the rom-com on a 12-year-old queer kid from Kansas, coming of age and to terms with his identity. Rodgers says it took him a “lifetime” to make.
Smith’s “Chasing Amy” chronicles the impact on the long-term friendship of two new Jersey comic book artists when they are joined by a third artist, who turns out to be lesbian. The fallout includes heartbreak and jealousy. It starred Ben Affleck, Jason Lee and Joey Lauren Adams. It remains controversial among LGBTQ+ people.
The documentary features exclusive interviews with figures including Smith, Adams, Lee, Guinevere Turner, Scott Mosier, Andrew Ahn, Robert Hawk, Princess Weekes and Academy Award-winner Kevin Willmott.
Los Angeles-based Level 33 has acquired worldwide rights to “Chasing Chasing Amy” and will itself release the film in theaters in the fall. It is partnered with interactive streaming service KINO for a virtual premiere event with a live Q&A, followed by on-demand and a physical media releases.
The documentary premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival and has screened at 75 festivals around the world to date, including the BFI London Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles, and Palm Springs International.
It has picked up audience awards and best documentary honors at festivals including the Cleveland International Film Festival, Roze Filmdagen, St. Louis International, Omaha and Hell’s Half Mile.
“’Chasing Chasing Amy’ is an incredibly special film, and we’re excited to work with the talented filmmakers behind it to bring it to audiences everywhere and introduce moviegoers to Sav Rodgers as a filmmaker to watch,” Level 33 President & CEO Andreas Olavarria said. “There’s something in this film for everyone, and we see its appeal as far-reaching for fans of Kevin Smith, film enthusiasts, LGBTQ audiences, and so many more.”
Produced by Rodgers, Alex Schmider, Carrie Radigan, Lela Meadow-Conner, and Matthew C. Mills, the documentary boasts cinematography by Bill Winters and Bradley Garrison, who also serves as co-producer. The film is edited by Sharika Ajaikumar, with an original score composed by Jordi Nus.
Executive producers are Jeffrey Weber, Tyler J. Emerson, Yana Buhrer-Tavanier, Drew E. Burbridge, Anthony Pedone and Chris Vivion. Associate producers include Clare Bateman-King, Kat Klein, Lauren Devlin, Marni Ellis, Regina “Riley” Rodgers, Ryan James, Christy Tostevin, and Jason Tostevin.
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