iW NEWS | Strand Resurrects "Otto" for the U.S.

Strand Releasing has acquired U.S. rights to Bruce LaBruce's "Otto; Or, Up with Dead People," Maximum Films has announced. The deal for the film, which had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and is having its European debut in Berlin Tuesday night, was negotiated by Jon Gerrans of Strand Releasing and Charlotte Mickie of Maximum Films International. Jey Crisfar portrays Otto, a young zombie who rises from the dead and hitches a ride to Berlin where he comes to reside at an amusement park and is discovered by a filmmaker who is completing her epic political porno movie. Millivres, meanwhile, has acquired all rights for the UK. Strand plans a fall 2008 release. [Brian Brooks]