Berry Meyerowitz’s Phase 4 Films has acquired all North American rights to James Westby’s black comedy Rid of Me, which debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival this spring. Phase 4 will partner with Submarine on a fall theatrical release. Writer-editor-director Westby (Film Geek, The Auteur) also produced the film with star Katie O’Grady’s Alcove Productions. The film won the Founder’s Prize for Best US Fiction Film at the 2011 Traverse City Film Festival.
Set in Portland, Oregon, RID OF ME is a black comedy that follows Meris (O’Grady), an awkward young woman trying too hard to perfect her marriage, amongst a new group of friends. With a breakthrough lead performance by O’Grady, and an ensemble that includes Art Alexakis (of rock band Everclear) and Theresa Russell (Black Widow, Bad Timing), RID OF ME follows Meris’ rejection from the cool crowd down a path towards truth and salvation which includes a job at a local candy shop, a group of punk friends, community gardening and a newfound love for Cambodian rock music.
In making the acquisition, Meyerowitz cited discovery Katie O’Grady the film’s “sharp wit and offbeat originality.”
[Photo of Kate O’Grady as Meris in Rid of Me.]
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