AFFRM Launches New Distribution Label ARRAY
Ava DuVernay’s AFFRM BECOMES ARRAY
“AFFRM’s new label ARRAY is built to serve the tremendous burst of black cinematic talent across the globe, filmmakers who are embracing new technologies to tell their stories by any means necessary,” DuVernay said in a statement. “The goal is to expand the brand cultivated over our first four theatrical releases by reaching new audiences via both digital and traditional platforms,”
“Selma” director Ava DuVernay has given an extreme makeover to her 5-year-old distribution company. Previously known as AFFRM (African American Film Festival Releasing Movement), the filmmaker has relaunched and expanded the company as Array.
“I’ve always felt as if there were so many films that get made but not seen,” she told Variety. “The real focus of our company has always been distribution. What we’re doing now is opening our arms a little wider and enlarging our mission.”
Array announced Tuesday that it has two films due out this fall: South African director Sara Blecher’s coming-of-age drama “Ayanda and the Mechanic” and Takeshi Fukunaga’s debut feature, “Out of My Hand.”
“It’s a definite evolution of what we were doing at AFFRM,” she said. “When I was out promoting ‘Selma,’ I became aware of so many other films that ought to be getting distribution. And this is a problem I can do something about because of my experience.”
DuVernay said Array will distribute films via the theatrical arthouse circuit as well as on streaming platforms.
If you’ve been following Tinsel & Tine then you know that I’ve been following Ava since she spoke at a luncheon in 2011 I’m so impressed with all she’s able to do and that her accomplishments are being acknowledged.
ARRAY’s (dedicated to multi-platform distribution of black independent film) first acquisition is the award-winning drama, Better Mus’ Come, the debut feature from writer/director Storm Saulter. ARRAY has acquired all U.S. distribution rights.
The deal was negotiated by Gordon Bobb of Del, Shaw,
Moonves, Tanaka Finkelstein & Lezcano on behalf of AFFRM with theproducers.
Below is the trailer for Better Mus’ Come
Storm Saulter’s Jamaican Epic Better
Mus’ Come is a landmark in Caribbean filmmaking and a stunning love story unfolding at one of the most
violent moments in Jamaican history, when rival gangs were enlisted
by warring political factions to disrupt the democratic process – and
bloodshed was unleashed on the streets.
Winner of Best Feature Awards
at Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival and Bahamas Intl Film
Festival, Best Director Award at Pan-African Film Festival and Best
Actor Award at American Black Film Festival, the film has screened at
Toronto International Film Festival, Film Society of Lincoln Center
and British Film Institute. The producer is Paul Bucknor, with
executive producers Joshua Bratter and Samantha Bratter.
will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A.
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