METROGRAPH PICTURES ACQUIRES RYAN J. SLOAN’S CANNES DISCOVERY GAZER FOLLOWING WORLD PREMIERE IN DIRECTORS’ FORTNIGHT
THE MESMERIZING NEO-NOIR, CO-WRITTEN BY SLOAN AND STAR ARIELLA MASTROIANNI, IS THE FILMMAKER’S FEATURE DEBUT
Courtesy of Metrograph Pictures
New York, NY (May 29, 2024) –Metrograph Pictures has acquired North American rights to Ryan J. Sloan’s Gazer following its world premiere in Directors’ Fortnight at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Metrograph Pictures will distribute the film theatrically, with additional release details to be announced at a later date. This marks Metrograph Pictures’ third acquisition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, following Julian Colonna’s acclaimed debut feature The Kingdom, and Sandhya Suri’s searing procedural Santosh, both of which premiered in Un Certain Regard.
Gazer follows a young mother (co-writer Ariella Mastroianni) who, due to a unique condition that progressively affects her perception of time, is trying to save money for her daughter’s future before it’s too late. She takes a risky job from a mysterious woman with a dark past, which leads her to become entangled in a tense web of revenge, deceit, and murder.
Gazer is Sloan’s debut feature. The film was shot on a shoestring budget over weekends in the spring and fall for two years while Sloan worked as an electrician and Mastroianni in film programming in New York. Shot on 16mm, and co-written by its magnetic lead actress, Gazer is not only a fresh perspective on the legendary paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s, but also a masterful tribute to, and bold reinvention of, the work of many great cinema artists over several generations.
IndieWire awarded the film a Critic’s Pick, heralding it as a “a brilliantly paranoid debut” and a“white-knuckle mystery thriller.” They continue, “Gazer is the kind of debut that should restore your faith in independent cinema. The film might be inspired by New Hollywood, but its existence is reason to believe that a similar filmmaking renaissance could be on the horizon.” The Hollywood Reporter lauded Gazer as “a striking ‘Memento’-like noir”.
David Laub, Head of Metrograph Pictures, says, “Gazer is a movie born of cinema and those who love it. A brilliant homage to the unforgettable New York thrillers of the 1970s and 1980s, it also announces extraordinary new talents in Ryan J. Sloan and Ariella Mastroianni, and shows definitively that all you need to create great, original movies are passion, resourcefulness, and fresh and exciting ideas. Ryan and Ariella’s approach and work deeply inspired us – we feel truly aligned with them and think Gazer is the perfect film to be championing and releasing at Metrograph Pictures.”
Filmmaker Ryan J. Sloan said, “Ariella and I are beyond excited that Gazer has found a home with Metrograph Pictures. David Laub is a true cinephile who champions filmmakers and shares our dedication to the theatrical experience. We are honored to be part of the unique vision for the future of Metrograph Pictures, a true home for movie lovers.”
The film was self-produced by Sloan and Mastroianni through their company Telstar Films. Executive producers are Sean Glass and Emily Korteweg.
UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. Sloan and Mastroianni are represented by UTA, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz and Matthew Saver.
For Press Inquiries, Please Contact:
Nico Chapin, nico@metrograph.com
About Metrograph
Metrograph is an entertainment company founded in 2016, based in New York City. Metrograph NYC is an independent movie theater at 7 Ludlow Street focusing on rare archival screenings (35mm and digital), special premieres, Q&As, and includes a restaurant, The Commissary, bookstore, and Candy Store.
Metrograph Pictures is an independent distribution company started in 2019 centered around Metrograph’s signature curation. Works acquired and released to date include restorations such as Possession (1981), A Bigger Splash (1973), Downtown 81 (1981/2001), Hyenas (1992), and will include a slate of new theatrical releases starting in 2024. The company’s first new acquisition is India Donaldson’s acclaimed Sundance film Good One. Metrograph’s SVOD platform, Metrograph At Home, launched in July 2020, and has been bringing Metrograph’s signature curation to a nationwide audience at metrograph.com.