Yellow Veil Pictures Buys ‘Knocking,’ Launches Distribution Arm (EXCLUSIVE)
Yellow Veil Pictures is launching a new North American distribution arm and has secured its first release in Frida Kempff’s “Knocking.”
The announcement comes in advance of the Cannes market this month and marks an important step forward in the evolution of the sales outfit, which has carved out a niche for itself in the arthouse genre sector.
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“Knocking,” which screened in Sundance, will have a theatrical and digital release this fall. It marks the feature debut for Kempff who, in 2010, saw her short “Bathing Mickey” take home the Prix du Jury at Cannes. The film stars Cecilia Milocco as Molly, who after suffering a traumatic incident moves into a new apartment to begin her path to recovery. It’s not long after her arrival that a series of persistent knocks and screams begin to wake her up at night. Molly’s new life begins to unravel as the screams intensify and no one else in the building believes or is willing to help her.
Founded in 2018 and launched out of the Frontières Market at the Fantasia International Film Festival, Yellow Veil Pictures as a boutique sales company has facilitated the releases of Tilman Singer’s “Luz” by Screen Media, Larry Fessenden’s “Depraved” by IFC Midnight, and most recently repped Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King’s SXSW adult fantasy animation “The Spine of Night,” which will be released by RLJE and Shudder.
“I’m so happy that we are partnering with Yellow Veil Pictures to get ‘Knocking’ in front of the audience in North America,” Kempff said. “The team at Yellow Veil has been so supportive and enthusiastic about Knocking and to be the first film out of their distribution arm is really something special.”
“Knocking” is written by Emma Broström and produced by Erik Andersson for Läsk in collaboration with SVT and the Swedish Film Institute through the initiative Moving Sweden with support from Norrköpings Filmfond. Federico Ambrosini served as executive producer on the film adapted from a novel written by Johan Theorin.
“Distribution felt like the natural extension of Yellow Veil Pictures, as our long time goal has been to be part of the success and visibility of the movies and creators we love,” Hugues Barbier, co-founder of Yellow Veil Pictures says. “Having the chance to kick off this endeavor with Frida’s dazzling and timely debut is the perfect way to convey the company’s aspirations, as well as bringing to the North American audience an audacious and necessary experience.”
The deal was negotiated by Yellow Veil Pictures Co-Founders Justin Timms, Joe Yanick, and Barbier with Bankside’s ana Georgieva representing the filmmakers.
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