MIdnight Family

1091 has picked up North American rights to the acclaimed Sundance documentary Midnight Family following a string of international festival awards and plans a late summer theatrical release.

Luke Lorentzen directed the film about the Ochoa family, who run a private ambulance in Mexico City’s wealthiest neighborhoods, and compete with other for-profit EMTs for patients in need of urgent help. As the Ochoas strive to earn a living, they struggle to keep their dire finances from compromising the people in their care.

Midnight Family is a Hedgehog Films production in co-production with No Ficción. Kellen Quinn and Lorentzen produced with Elena Fortes and Daniela Alatorre.

The film premiered in the Documentary Competition category at Sundance and won the special jury award for best cinematography. It screened this month at New Directors/New Films in New York, and won the Premio Mezcal award for best film and best director at the Guadalajara International Film Festival, and the Documentary Competition Firebird Award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

“Much like our film Cartel Land, Midnight Family is a riveting documentary exploring life for a family in Mexico as they strive for survival,” said Danielle DiGiacomo, senior vice-president of acquisitions and strategic partnerships, 1091. “Luke Lorentzen tells an authentic story of the Ochoas and we are thrilled to bring this must-see film to theaters.”

“We’re enormously excited to partner with 1091 whose releases include some of our favorite films of the past few years,” said Lorentzen on behalf of the production. “The viewing experience is as integral to this film as its story and themes, so we’re particularly happy that audiences across the US and Canada will get to see it on the big screen.”

DiGiacomo brokered the deal with Submarine Entertainment on behalf of the filmmakers.