Coverage of Isa’s (International Sales Agents) has resumed for The American Film Market. This segment follows leaders and innovation in the world of international film sales and distribution.
The UK based Devilworks is a boutique and genre based international sales company that was started by Matteo Rolleri and Samantha Richardson.
Devilworks mostly represents horror, thriller and science fiction genres. This new company is having great success with its new film “Time Lapse”, which has already received seven "best feature" awards on the international film circuit.
Matteo Rolleri shares his background and more about why he started Devilworks:
I have a background in production. I produced “Break My Fall”, by Kanchi Wichmann, which was picked up by Reel Suspects. Before that, I actually made a lot of short films and music videos. I’ve attended Cannes every year since the beginning of my film career, so I’ve been greatly influenced by the world of sales agents. Reel Suspects also introduced me to the sales aspect of things.
Why did you get into film sales?
I started to notice that most producers weren’t happy with sales companies, because they were not getting any money back from the sales. They didn’t have enough control of the film. They didn’t get enough feedback from the agents, or their films were packaged with other films that they didn’t find appropriate. This is why I decided to open Devilworks. Now we have seven films, and next year we are planning to acquire another five. Maintaining a boutique selection of titles will allow us to keep selling what we have at the moment and to introduce new titles without doing any packaging.
We are producer friendly, in the true meaning.
We launched the company last year at Berlin. The company is based in the UK, and the head office is in Malta. Before, I worked at Guildhall Pictures, which mainly focuses on drama films and production. I opened their sales division, and that gave me the passion to start my own company.
Please talk about the Devilworks slate.
We love genre films, but the storyline has to be really strong. There must be a story to tell. We have seven films. We’re excited about “Time Lapse”, which is a Sci-Fi/Thriller that has won many awards. It’s going really well, and it was launched at The Fantasia Film Festival this year. Its success has helped us to build even stronger relations with fantastic festivals and press around the globe.
It will be released in the U.S. next year. We sold it to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. Italy will release it theatrically in February, and it will be released in South Korea and in Japan on the 3rd of December. ”Time Lapse” will be released on SkyMovies UK on the 14th of November, and will be shortly followed by a VOD release across United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta.
We just acquired a new thriller/horror called “The Perfect Husband”, which is the debut feature from writer/director Lucas Pavetto. We're excited because Pavetto has really tackled the thriller genre, and has created something invoking and fresh for horror lovers.
The film already won the Fantafestival in Rome for Best Debut Feature, and we just lunched the title at Afm with world rights. Explorer Entertainment will release it theatrically in Italy on December fourth.
What’s drives you in this work?
My background is artistic. I’m a poet and I used to be a hip-hop performer in Italy. I have always found myself putting people together to do creative projects, so film sales speaks to this part of me.
I work on the stories that I want people to see. I’ve been through the process of producing films, so I know how hard it is. I do this for the producers, to help them share their stories. It’s important, and really exciting. I also enjoy the creative side, the travel and the relationships we build with people around the world. The people make the difference in this business.
Learn more about the Devilworks Slate.
More About Devilworks:
Devilworks is Boutique World Film Sales Agent, representing challenging genre films. We are constantly looking for films that challenge the preconceptions of genre that recreates a new way of telling stories.
We specialize in entertaining films, ranging from Action, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Thriller.
Our passion is to bring to the world market unexpected stories. We connect the creativity of these stories with the demanding business of film distribution. We put Producers first, avoiding the usual issues they face with other sales agencies, unaccountable marketing expenses, complicated long-term contracts and a lack of communication.
Our sales strategy is based on the connections that we have built over the past 5 years, working in the Industry and attending markets in Europe and USA. We can provide a thoughtful marketing campaign to exploit films in the world distribution market.
The UK based Devilworks is a boutique and genre based international sales company that was started by Matteo Rolleri and Samantha Richardson.
Devilworks mostly represents horror, thriller and science fiction genres. This new company is having great success with its new film “Time Lapse”, which has already received seven "best feature" awards on the international film circuit.
Matteo Rolleri shares his background and more about why he started Devilworks:
I have a background in production. I produced “Break My Fall”, by Kanchi Wichmann, which was picked up by Reel Suspects. Before that, I actually made a lot of short films and music videos. I’ve attended Cannes every year since the beginning of my film career, so I’ve been greatly influenced by the world of sales agents. Reel Suspects also introduced me to the sales aspect of things.
Why did you get into film sales?
I started to notice that most producers weren’t happy with sales companies, because they were not getting any money back from the sales. They didn’t have enough control of the film. They didn’t get enough feedback from the agents, or their films were packaged with other films that they didn’t find appropriate. This is why I decided to open Devilworks. Now we have seven films, and next year we are planning to acquire another five. Maintaining a boutique selection of titles will allow us to keep selling what we have at the moment and to introduce new titles without doing any packaging.
We are producer friendly, in the true meaning.
We launched the company last year at Berlin. The company is based in the UK, and the head office is in Malta. Before, I worked at Guildhall Pictures, which mainly focuses on drama films and production. I opened their sales division, and that gave me the passion to start my own company.
Please talk about the Devilworks slate.
We love genre films, but the storyline has to be really strong. There must be a story to tell. We have seven films. We’re excited about “Time Lapse”, which is a Sci-Fi/Thriller that has won many awards. It’s going really well, and it was launched at The Fantasia Film Festival this year. Its success has helped us to build even stronger relations with fantastic festivals and press around the globe.
It will be released in the U.S. next year. We sold it to Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. Italy will release it theatrically in February, and it will be released in South Korea and in Japan on the 3rd of December. ”Time Lapse” will be released on SkyMovies UK on the 14th of November, and will be shortly followed by a VOD release across United Kingdom, Ireland and Malta.
We just acquired a new thriller/horror called “The Perfect Husband”, which is the debut feature from writer/director Lucas Pavetto. We're excited because Pavetto has really tackled the thriller genre, and has created something invoking and fresh for horror lovers.
The film already won the Fantafestival in Rome for Best Debut Feature, and we just lunched the title at Afm with world rights. Explorer Entertainment will release it theatrically in Italy on December fourth.
What’s drives you in this work?
My background is artistic. I’m a poet and I used to be a hip-hop performer in Italy. I have always found myself putting people together to do creative projects, so film sales speaks to this part of me.
I work on the stories that I want people to see. I’ve been through the process of producing films, so I know how hard it is. I do this for the producers, to help them share their stories. It’s important, and really exciting. I also enjoy the creative side, the travel and the relationships we build with people around the world. The people make the difference in this business.
Learn more about the Devilworks Slate.
More About Devilworks:
Devilworks is Boutique World Film Sales Agent, representing challenging genre films. We are constantly looking for films that challenge the preconceptions of genre that recreates a new way of telling stories.
We specialize in entertaining films, ranging from Action, Horror, Fantasy, Science Fiction and Thriller.
Our passion is to bring to the world market unexpected stories. We connect the creativity of these stories with the demanding business of film distribution. We put Producers first, avoiding the usual issues they face with other sales agencies, unaccountable marketing expenses, complicated long-term contracts and a lack of communication.
Our sales strategy is based on the connections that we have built over the past 5 years, working in the Industry and attending markets in Europe and USA. We can provide a thoughtful marketing campaign to exploit films in the world distribution market.
- 11/8/2014
- by Erin Grover
- Sydney's Buzz
Often bleak, but always stylish, Break My Fall is all about the disintegrating relationship between two tragically hip London ladies. First time director Kanchi Wichmann has an astounding eye for realistic drama and offers serious talent behind the camera, painting one of the most intimate portraits of lost love the lesbian scene has ever seen.
Sally (Sophie Anderson) and Liza (Kat Redstone) are bandmates and girlfriends living smack in the middle of the queer scene in London. They live in a crappy flat and they are clearly on their last legs when we first meet them. The very first scene sees Liza wistfully pouring over old footage of happier days, a performance only a few years prior where both women are playing their hearts out and making doe eyes at one another.
In stomps Sally after a hard night’s work at a local restaurant, exhausted and annoyed when Liza...
Sally (Sophie Anderson) and Liza (Kat Redstone) are bandmates and girlfriends living smack in the middle of the queer scene in London. They live in a crappy flat and they are clearly on their last legs when we first meet them. The very first scene sees Liza wistfully pouring over old footage of happier days, a performance only a few years prior where both women are playing their hearts out and making doe eyes at one another.
In stomps Sally after a hard night’s work at a local restaurant, exhausted and annoyed when Liza...
- 8/10/2011
- by Danielle Riendeau
- AfterEllen.com
Beginners (15)
(Mike Mills, 2010, Us) Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent. 105 mins
Mills doesn't iron out the hipster-auteur quirks here – a subtitled dog, freeform photomontages, felt-tip illustrations – but he puts them to the service of an authentic drama. McGregor is an La loner whose widowed father (Plummer) came out as gay and enjoyed a few hedonistic years before his death. Not your standard indie baggage, this warm, smartly told story deals with it sincerely, and gets the sweet/sad balance just about right.
Horrible Bosses (15)
(Seth Gordon, 2011, Us) Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis. 98 mins
Clearly aiming for the post-Hangover fratcom market, this sees three guys' plan to off their bosses go awry from the outset, with occasionally amusing, but often crude consequences. Colourful big-name cameos gloss over some political dodginess.
The Big Picture (15)
(Eric Lartigau, 2010, Fra) Romain Duris, Marina Foïs, Niels Arestrup. 115 mins
Duris proves his leading man capabilities amply...
(Mike Mills, 2010, Us) Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent. 105 mins
Mills doesn't iron out the hipster-auteur quirks here – a subtitled dog, freeform photomontages, felt-tip illustrations – but he puts them to the service of an authentic drama. McGregor is an La loner whose widowed father (Plummer) came out as gay and enjoyed a few hedonistic years before his death. Not your standard indie baggage, this warm, smartly told story deals with it sincerely, and gets the sweet/sad balance just about right.
Horrible Bosses (15)
(Seth Gordon, 2011, Us) Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis. 98 mins
Clearly aiming for the post-Hangover fratcom market, this sees three guys' plan to off their bosses go awry from the outset, with occasionally amusing, but often crude consequences. Colourful big-name cameos gloss over some political dodginess.
The Big Picture (15)
(Eric Lartigau, 2010, Fra) Romain Duris, Marina Foïs, Niels Arestrup. 115 mins
Duris proves his leading man capabilities amply...
- 7/22/2011
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
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