ARRAY Releasinghas acquired “Frybread Face and Me,” and has set a release date for Nov. 24 in select theaters and on Netflix.
The film marks documentary filmmaker Billy Luther’s narrative feature debut. The President of Array Tilane Jones announced the news that the company had acquired rights in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland.
“Array is honored to partner with director Billy Luther in releasing his beautiful debut feature film to audiences which revels in the joys of adolescence,” said Jones. “Billy captures the sweet moments of his summers as a child with a Native American perspective that should be embraced and celebrated now more than ever.”
The coming-of-age story had its world premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival with an international premiere at Toronto International Film Festival. It has been making the fall festival rounds including screenings at Mill Valley Film Festival and Middleburg Film Festival.
“Frybread Face and Me” follows two adolescent Navajo cousins from different worlds as they bond
during a summer on their grandmother’s Arizona ranch. Produced by Chad Burris and executive produced by Taika Waititi, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato. The film stars Kier Tallman, Charley Hogan, Martin Sensmeier, Kahara Hodges and Sarah Natani.
Native filmmaker Luther of the Navajo, Hopi and Laguna Pueblo tribes wrote and directed the film. Speaking about the film, Luther said Benny’s (Tallman) story of learning about rez life and bonding with his cousin Frybread (Hogan) has universal appeal in that it’s ultimately about being somewhere new and feeling alone. “You don’t have to be Native to connect to the story because everyone remembers being dropped off somewhere, and the story brings that familiarity.”
Talking about telling the story, Luther said he wanted to tell an honest story. “I couldn’t have made this film in my 20s. I needed to experience life, have children and have a healed relationship with my family.”
He continued, “When you watch a lot of Native films, there is a lot of poverty or torture porn. I’m glad we’re finally coming out of those and there are filmmakers and storytellers out there, telling stories with humor. There is hopefulness and resiliency in our community and among our storytellers.”
The acquisition was negotiated by Marissa Forbes of CAA on behalf of the film, and Gordon Bobb
of Del Shaw Moonves Tanaka Finkelstein Lezcano Bobb & Dang, on behalf of Array Releasing.
