Refinery29 will expand into the feature film world in a new partnership with Neon, the independent film studio behind the releases of “I, Tonya” and “Three Identical Strangers,” both companies announced Tuesday.
The two companies will join forces to identify, purchase and co-distribute films. This partnership marks the first time Refinery29 will dabble in feature films.
The first films that will be distributed by Neon and Refinery29 will be Bella Thorne’s “Assassination Nation” and Tessa Thompson’s “Little Woods.” “Assassination Nation,” which also stars Hari Nef, Odessa Young and Suki Waterhouse, will be released on Sept. 21, while “Little Woods,” also starring Lily James, was recently awarded the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival Nora Ephron Award.
“Since its inception, Neon has established itself as a major player in the industry, disrupting the way the next generation consumes and views films, which aligns with how we speak to and challenge our audience and the media industry as a whole,” said Amy Emmerich, chief content officer, Refinery29. “Following the success of our short film series, Shatterbox, we are excited to expand our storytelling and experiential offerings and make our mark on the feature film business.”
Neon senior vice president Christina Zisa added, “We’re excited to be working with Refinery29 and launching films like ‘Assassination Nation’ and ‘Little Woods’ for the company’s smart, passionate audience of women and to bolster our shared dedication to female filmmakers and female-driven films. We couldn’t think of a better brand and partner to align with than Refinery29, as their commitment to creating and supporting content that speaks to young women today is unparalleled.”
Under the deal, Neon will also distribute select Shatterbox short films. Shatterbox is Refinery29’s initiative to help women get behind the camera. Since its launch in August 2016, the initiative has announced the directorial debut of Chloe Sevigny’s short “Kitty,” Kristen Stewart’s short film “Come Swim” and Anu Valia’s “Lucia Before and After.”