Visit Films has acquired worldwide sales rights for “Realm of Satan,” the feature film debut of seasoned editor Scott Cummings. The film, a documentary about Satanists, will have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. On its website, the festival warns potential viewers: “This film contains graphic sexual content.”
Cummings previously directed short film “Buffalo Juggalos,” which won the grand jury prize for live action short at AFI Fest. He has served as the editor on several films that premiered at Sundance including “Never Rarely Sometimes Always,” “Monsters and Men,” “Menashe” and “Wendy.”
“Realm of Satan” is a portrait of Satanists in both everyday and extraordinary situations. Visit Films describes the film as “a ritualistic documentary that casts a spell on viewers, luring them into a mystical world of magic, mystery and misanthropy.”
Cummings worked in collaboration with members of the Church of Satan to stage moments that capture “the labors and pleasures of modern Satanists.” It follows church leaders Peter Gilmore, Blanche Barton and Peggy Nadramia.
According to Visit Films: “His technique foregrounds the esoteric as much as the ordinary, presenting an illuminating, wryly comic, and at times deadly serious portrait of a religion that is often veiled in secrecy or distorted by misunderstanding.”
Sundance states in its online notes: “[Cummings’] unique approach is to work in collaboration with sinister subcultures to conjure up video portraits that express a vision of their personal existence. As Cummings works in lockstep with cinematographer Gerald Kerkletz, each shot is its own small treasure to explore, whether fantastical, explicit, mundane, or all of the above. ‘Realm of Satan’s’ acceptance in an unreality sets itself on an anarchistic path through expressions of identity and image-making that nobly fights all forms of tradition.”
It is produced by Caitlin Mae Burke (“Anbessa,” “We Could Be King”) and Pacho Velez (“Searchers,” “Some Kind of Heaven”). Joe Poletto, Sam Roseme and Cathy Tankosic executive produced for Asterlight.
Visit Films president Ryan Kampe describes the film as “an engrossing portrait of true Satanists that have operated in the shadows and are now ready for the spotlight.”
Cummings says Visit Films had been “instrumental in finding the right audiences for several films I’ve edited, and I can’t think of a better partner for this film.”
