"A Lion in the House" Picked up for U.S. Release by Online Journal, Reverse Shot

Online film journal Reverse Shot has announced its first foray into theatrical distribution with the acquisition of Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert's critically acclaimed documentary "A Lion in the House." Premiering at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in January, the film has since gone on to share the best documentary prize at the Nashville Film Festival and taken special jury nods at both the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival and the Cleveland International Film Festival in addition to an audience award at the recently completed Hot Docs in Toronto. It will see television broadcast on PBS' "Independent Lens" in late June. The film provides an heart-wrenching look at the struggles with cancer of five young people and their families over a six-year period. The deal was negotiated by Neal Block and Jeff Reichert (who is related to Julia Reichert) of Reverse Shot with the filmmakers and Jan Rofekamp and Diana Holtzberg of Films Transit International, Inc.. Films Transit is selling the film worldwide. "A Lion in the House" is a co-production of the filmmakers and ITVS, the Independent Television Service. The Reverse Shot team has scheduled the film in ten cities prior to the broadcast. (Editors note: Reverse Shot writers provide weekly reviews for indieWIRE.) [Brian Brooks]