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EXCLUSIVE: Dark Sky Films has acquired all North American distribution rights to A Desert, the Tribeca and Sitges Film Festival debut from Joshua Erkman.
The neo-noir horror hybrid is due to be released in the first quarter of 2025. Pic had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival this past summer and the film’s international premiere at Sitges Festival this past week, where it won Best Feature Film in the New Visions category.
The distribution agreement was negotiated by Greg Newman, Executive Vice President for Dark Sky Films, and Hugues Barbier, Justin Timms and Joe Yanick for Yellow Veil Pictures.
Erkman’s company Capes & Fog produced the film along with Yellow Veil Pictures. It is the latter’s first original production, marking a new phase for the genre sales company whose previous releases have included George A. Romero’s long-unreleased The Amusement Park and Gaspar Noe’s Luz AEterna
The official synopsis reads: “Looking to revive his photography career, Alex Clark (Kai Lennox, Green Room) takes a road trip through the American Southwest in search of inspiration among the desolate roadways and rundown old buildings, specifically their abandoned movie theaters. At home, he’s left his wife, Sam (Sarah Lind, A Wounded Fawn), to hold down the fort. A pit stop at a grungy roadside motel leads to Alex reluctantly befriending Renny (Zachary Ray Sherman, winner of Frightfest’s Best Actor award), a volatile wild card who’s joined by a woman he introduces as his sister, Susie Q (Ashley B. Smith).
“Alex and his unlikely new companions spend a crazy night together, a night so hard in its alcohol consumption that he can barely remember what happened the next morning. But when he sets out to hit the road again, Renny has other plans and talks Alex into some more hangout time. By agreeing to Renny’s proposal, Alex unwittingly sends his life down a very dark path, one that leads straight into a total nightmare for all involved.”
Greg Newman, Executive Vice President of Dark Sky Films, said: “Joshua Erkman has crafted a neo-noir road movie that keeps you glued to the screen with unexpected twists and a finale that stays with you long after viewing.”
Hugues Barbier of Yellow Veil Pictures added: “We couldn’t be more proud to have A Desert as our first original production at Yellow Veil and the film’s reception has been incredible at film festivals worldwide. We’re thrilled to team up with Dark Sky Films to bring Joshua Erkman’s distinct brand of bold filmmaking to genre film fans across the country.”
