The Sundance queer drama “Sebastian,” directed by up-and-coming Finnish-British directorMikko Mäkelä, has been bought by Kino Lorber for U.S. distribution, along with a string of international buyers.
Represented in international markets by LevelK, the film made its world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
“Sebastian” follows Max (Ruaridh Mollica), a 25-year-oldfreelance writer and aspiring novelist whoseems well on his way tosuccess in London’s cultural spheres. Yet by night, he finds a differentkind of exhilaration as a sex worker with the pseudonym Sebastian, meeting men via anescorting platform. Max uses his experiencesas Sebastian to fuel his stories, and the worthydebut novel that he has been longing to write finally seems within reach. But Max increasinglystruggles to remain in control of his double-life, leading him to reckon withwhether Sebastian is merely a writer’s tool to achieve first-handauthenticity, or if something more is at stake.
Kino Lorber is planning a theatrical, home video and digital release on all major platforms later in 2024.
In addition to Kino Lorber, the film has been sold by LevelK to Germany (Salzgeber & Co.), France (Optimale Sarl), Brazil (Imovision), Spain (Filmin Spain) and Poland (Tongariro Releasing), with more deals still being negotiated. September Films in Benelux and Cinemanse in the Nordics also picked up the film ahead of the EFM.
“Mikko Mäkelä’s sensual, sophisticated debut offers an engrossing and provocative look at the intersection of sex work, art, identity and authenticity,” said Kino Lorber SVP Wendy Lidell. “‘Sebastian’ hardly shies away from frank depictions of sex on screen, but what impressed me most about it at Sundance was that the carnal acts on display were never gratuitous, but rather suffused with intellectual and artistic purpose.”
Over at the French banner Optimale Sarl, head of distribution Cyril Rota described Ruaridh Mollica as the next U.K. star, “reminiscent of a Tom Holland-type.”
“He explores the highly secretive world of male escorting from a unique angle never seen before,” Rota continued. “This debut feature from a promising young Finnish-British director adeptly navigates a highly sensitive subject, portraying the nuances of sexuality in a time when everything seems polarized.”
The cast is completed byHiftu Quasem (“The Witcher: Blood Origin,” “Killing Eve”), Jonathan Hyde (“Titanic”) and Ingvar Sigurdsson (“A White, White Day”).
“Sebastian” is produced by James Watson for Bêtes Sauvages and co-produced by Aleksi Bardy, Ciara Barry, Rosie Crerar, Erik Glijnis, Severi Koivusalo, Leontine Petit and Dries Phlypo for Helsinki Filmi, Barry Crerar and Lemming Film. MikeGoodridge, former CEO of Protagonist Pictures and producer of “Triangle of Sadness”serves as executive producer alongside Lizzie Francke for the BFI whose EP credits include “Aftersun” and “The Souvenir.”
The movie marks Mäkelä’s follow-up to his feature debut, “A Moment in the Reeds,” which screened at over 80festivals worldwide.Mäkeläis an alumnus of Berlinale Talents, as well as the inauguralBIFA SpringboardProgramme supported by Netflix (2020).
