US Briefs: FilmRise acquires 'The Sunshine Makers'

FilmRise has acquired exclusive worldwide rights to The Sunshine Makers and plans to release the documentary theatrically in the autumn.

Cosmo Feilding Mellen’s film chronicles the lives of Nicholas Sand and Tim Scully, the underground chemists at the heart of the 1960s psychedelic revolution who created the Orange Sunshine LSD.

The film premiered at the 2015 DOC NYC festival and was produced by George Chignell and Nicole Stott of Passion Pictures, whose John Battsek served as executive producer alongside Omar Fayed of Persephone Pictures.

• Gravitas Ventures has acquired US rights from Todd Slater of Blue Fox Entertainment to and Front Galley Productions’ thriller Cardinal Matter directed by Madeline Puzzo. Zac Titus, Kelsey Crane, Matthew Stannah, Tim Parrish, and Olivia Jordan star. The deal concluded in Cannes. Gravitas has set a July 8 VoD release.
• The 16th edition of horror film festival Screamfest will run from October 18-27 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood. Actress Lydia Hearst will serve as ambassador for the festival. For further details click here.
• Hany Abu-Assad, Cherien Dabis and Mohamed Diab, whose Clash opened Un Cetain Regard in Cannes, will take part in the Global Media Makers Presents: Storytelling From The Inside Out event on June 2 under the auspices of the Los Angeles Film Festival. The festival will include Diversity Speaks Panels and runs from June 1-9.