LOS ANGELES (April 27, 2022) — Today, Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company, announced the launch of its new theatrical release label, GRAVITAS PREMIERE, which will acquire 4-6 cast-driven, high production value films per year and release them wide theatrically with significant P&A support. As its first title, GRAVITAS PREMIERE acquired North American rights to MACK & RITA, starring Diane Keaton and directed by Katie Aselton, and will theatrically distribute the feature film wide across the U.S. and Canada on August 12, 2022.
“We are delighted to launch Gravitas Premiere with the acquisition of ‘Mack & Rita,’ which solidifies our commitment to championing the cinematic in-theater experience,” said Nolan Gallagher, Gravitas Ventures Founder & CEO. “People love going to the movies and this film is an excitingly fresh and insightful comedy that needs to be experienced on the big screen. ‘Mack & Rita’ is the type of high-quality, independently-produced story we are seeking to acquire through Gravitas Premiere, and we look forward to collaborating with our exhibition partners in bringing the film to theaters wide across North America.”
Hulu will be a Pay One U.S. partner on the film. Hulu subscribers will be able to stream MACK & RITA on December 20, 2022.
MACK & RITA is directed by Katie Aselton and stars Academy Award winner Diane Keaton, Taylour Paige, Elizabeth Lail, Loretta Devine, Simon Rex, Dustin Milligan, Amy Hill, Lois Smith, Wendie Malick, Patti Harrison, Martin Short, Addie Weyrich, Aimee Carrero, and Nicole Byer. The feature film is written by Paul Welsh & Madeline Walter and produced by Alex Saks, Diane Keaton, Stephanie Heaton-Harris, Jina Panebianco, Dori A. Rath.
“We’re so thrilled to be working on Mack & Rita with the incredible team at Gravitas Ventures as they launch their new label, Gravitas Premiere. Their support and collaborative spirit, as well as their commitment to a wide theatrical release, are a dream for us as filmmakers,” said director Katie Aselton and producer Alex Saks.
In MACK & RITA, Mackenzie Martin (Lail) is tired of doing all the things she has to do to keep up and get ahead in her 30s. Since she was a little girl, Mack’s deepest wish is to be just like her Grammie: comfortable in her own skin, great at saying “no,” and largely unburdened by what others think of her—not to mention love for a good chunky sweater and being in bed by 8:00 p.m.! While at her best friend’s bachelorette in Palm Springs, Mack stumbles into a sound bath regression pod and emerges a 70-year-old woman. Now transformed as “Aunt Rita” (Keaton), Mack thinks she will finally find self-acceptance, but quickly learns the reality of skipping to old age isn’t quite what she imagined.
MACK & RITA is executive produced by Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, Jean-Luc De Fanti, R. Wesley Sierk III, Joseph Panebianco, John D. Straley, Jojo Ryder, Lauren Beveridge, Brett Beveridge, Jackie Shenoo, Joseph Restaino.
“The entire team at Gravitas is happy to be part of the life of ‘Mack & Rita,’” said Gravitas Ventures’ Senior Director of Acquisitions, Bill Guentzler. “Katie Aselton, Alex Saks and Diane Keaton created a funny and endearing inter-generational story filled with romance and heart. Through Gravitas Premiere, we look forward to sharing the magic of this film with audiences in theaters this summer.”
Gravitas Ventures’ Bill Guentzler, Senior Director of Acquisitions negotiated the deal with WME Independent on behalf of the filmmakers.
About Gravitas Ventures
Gravitas Ventures is a leading all rights distributor of independent feature films and documentaries. Founded in 2006, Gravitas connects independent filmmakers and producers with distribution opportunities across the globe. Working with talented directors and producers, Gravitas Ventures has distributed thousands of films into over a hundred million homes in North America - over one billion homes worldwide. Recent releases include Queen Bees directed by Michael Lembeck, Our Friend directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, starring Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson, and Jason Segel,Vanguard, directed by Stanley Tong and starring Jackie Chan, The Secret: Dare to Dream, directed by Andy Tennant and starring Katie Holmes; For more information, please visit www.gravitasventures.com, and follow @GravitasVOD on Twitter and @gravitasventures on Instagram.
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Toronto. Anthem's portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution companyGravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world's premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world's leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNET MOVIES, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, please visit anthemse.com.