Zeitgeist Gallops "Horse Boy" to North America

A scene from Michel Orion Scott's "The Horse Boy". Image courtesy of Zeitgeist Films.

North American theatrical and home entertainment rights to Sundance Film Festival Documentary competition entry "Over The Hills and Far Away" (now "The Horse Boy") directed by Michel Orion Scott have been acquired by Zeitgeist Films, the company's co-presidents, Emily Russo and Nancy Gerstman announced Wednesday afternoon. Zeitgeist plans a Fall release for the film with the DVD release to be coordinated with the paperback publication of the book "The Horse Boy," written by Rupert Isaacson and published by Little Brown, which inspired the film.

In order to coordinate the marketing of the film with the paperback's publication, Zeitgeist, Scott and Isaacson agreed to change the film's title to "The Horse Boy."

The deal was brokered on behalf of the filmmakers by Andrew Herwitz, president of the Film Sales Company (the worldwide sales agent for the film), and Russo and Gerstman of Zeitgeist Films.

The film explores one family's unforgettable journey as they travel halfway across the world in search of a miracle to heal their son. After feeling traditional medicine had failed them, journalist Rupert Isaacson traveled with wife Kristin and 5 year old autistic son Rowan to Mongolia and embarked on a journey on horseback to seek help from legendary shamans in the Northern part of that country. Isaacson also produced "The Horse Boy," which played at SXSW, the Sarasota Film Festival (take the Audience Award for Best Documentary) and at the upcoming Hot Docs Festival in Toronto.

In related news, BBC Storyville has acquired the UK broadcast rights for the film. The film was featured at the MIPDOC earlier this month.

"We are so proud to be distributing this sweeping and emotionally charged story, which embodies the openness and faith the Isaacson family places in the possibility of trying something extraordinary," commented Russo and Gerstman in a statement. "Throughout this process I have made decisions relying on my instinct. From the moment I met them I knew Emily and Nancy were the right people to handle the release of the film about my family's journey" added Isaacson in a release.

Zeitgeist is currently in release with Tulpan, and recently acquired another Sundance Festival premiere, Afghan Star, set to open in June.