IFC Midnight is acquiring North American distribution rights to the comedy "The Catechism Cataclysm," the company announced Monday.
It also has acquired television and digital rights for the movie, directed by Todd Rohal, in France, Benelux, Spain, Portugal, East-Central Europe, Turkey and Greece.
The film's world premiere was at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. It also will be shown at the upcoming 2011 SXSW Film Festival in the Emerging Visions section.
Rohal also wrote the movie, which stars Steve Little ("Eastbound & Down"), Robert Longstreet ("Septien") and Wally Dalton ("The Off Hours").
Longstreet also executive produced the project. David Gordon Green, Megan Griffiths, Jody Hill, Lacey Leavitt, Danny McBride and Matt Reilly also are producers.
"'Cataclysm Catechism' is one of the funniest films we have seen in ages," IFC Films/Sundance Selects President Jonathan Sehring said in a written statement. "It features one of the funniest campfire scenes in the history of cinema. It's a film that is destined for cult status. We can't wait to work with Todd Rohal and his fantastic cast on this film."
The movie is about a young priest who tells inappropriate parables to his congregation and is forced to take a sabbatical. While on leave, Father Billy tracks down his high school idol,Robbie, and the two set out on a canoe trip. On the water, the two men reminisce about Billy's time as the keyboard player in a Christian band and Robbie's stint as guitar player for a metal band. As night begins to fall, the two realize they have lost their way.
"It's been a blast making this film, premiering it at Sundance and working with Cinetic to find us a home at IFC Midnight," Rohal said in a written statement. "We're thrilled that IFC Midnight is embracing our mix of Christian values and Satanic ritualism and unleashing it into this troubled world. It's going to be a fun ride."
Arianna Bocco, senior VP acquisitions & productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films and Jeff Deutchman, the company's manager of acquisitions & productions, negotiated the deal with Debra Fisher at Cinetic Media.
The deal for "Catechism Catacylsm" was negotiated by Arianna Bocco, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films and Jeff Deutchman, Manager of Acquisitions & Productions for Sundance Selects/IFC Films with Debra Fisher at Cinetic Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
