Mubi Secures US Distribution Rights for Sundance Standout "Lurker"
Riding the wave of its five Academy Award nominations for "The Substance," boutique distributor Mubi has acquired another acclaimed indie film for the US market.
"Lurker," a gripping feature that delves into the cutthroat world of fame and exploitation, was snapped up by Mubi following its premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. In a competitive bidding situation, Mubi secured the distribution rights for a mid-seven-figure sum.
Penned and directed by Alex Russell, "Lurker" stars Théodore Pellerin as Matty, an ambitious retail worker who becomes entangled with Archie Madekwe's rising pop star. Matty's relentless pursuit of fame leads him down a dangerous path, exposing the dark underbelly of celebrity culture.
The film marks Russell's impressive debut, following his Emmy-winning work on Netflix's "Beef." The cast includes Havana Rose Liu, Sunny Suljic, Zach Fox, and Daniel Zolghadri alongside Pellerin and Madekwe.
Mubi's acquisition represents a significant commitment to a US theatrical release. The distributor has previously released "The Substance" (acquired from Universal Pictures with a $15 million price tag) and "Decision to Leave."
Other notable Sundance sales include "Perfect Neighbor" and "Train Dreams" to Netflix, "Sorry, Baby" to A24, and "Together" to Neon.