EXCLUSIVE: Metrograph Pictures has acquired U.S. rights to The Black Sea, the offbeat comedy from Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden which debuted at this year’s SXSW Film Festival. Metrograph will release the pic theatrically later this year.
Inspired by Harden’s travels to Bulgaria, and improvised by Harden and its Bulgarian cast, The Black Sea traces the journey of a charismatic dreamer from Brooklyn who inadvertently ends up as the only Black person in a small town on the Black Sea in Eastern Europe. While initially, all he wants is to get home, he becomes increasingly drawn to the unorthodox characters and unexpected connections he finds.
Related Stories
UTA Independent Film Group negotiated the deal on behalf of the filmmakers. The film was produced by Izabella Tzenkova, Kotva Films, and GiveThanks. Executive producers include Andrea Leibof, Cameron Brody, Dana Høegh, Jonas Carpignano, Josh Peters, Robina Riccitiello, Ted Hope, and Ted Wright. The film was shot by cinematographer Jackson Hunt, edited by Anastas Petkov, and features original music by Derrick B. Harden and composed by Charles Moselle.
The pic is the latest narrative feature from Moselle, who previously won the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize for her breakout documentary The Wolfpack. Her second film, Skate Kitchen, starring Jaden Smith, was a cult hit and picked up two Gotham Award noms. Moselle would go on to create, direct, and executive produce a TV series based on Skate Kitchen, entitled Betty, for HBO MAX. Harden also featured on Betty. The Black Sea is his feature debut.
“The Black Sea is such a joyful discovery of a movie,” David Laub, Head of Metrograph Pictures, told us this morning. “A completely fresh, relevant, and poignant take on the fish-out-of-water story, the film is bursting at the seams with infectious charm and energy, while portraying and reflecting on significant cultural ideas and concerns. We’re thrilled to be working with Crystal, whose work we have long admired, and Derrick, whose one-of-a-kind spirit seems to imbue every frame of the movie, to make this into a very special release.”
Moselle and Harden added: “The coming together of Metrograph Pictures and The Black Sea is exactly what we pictured for the release of our film. Their team truly supports independent cinema, keeping original thought alive. We seem to share the same desire to break the mold on how one may release a film. We look forward to creating an unexpected and inspired release together, for a film that is very personal to us.”