George A. Romero’s newest zombie romp is currently making the festival rounds and… is doing awesome? I can honestly say I didn’t see this coming…
Don’t get me wrong. I’m excited for another zombie movie from Romero and I’m stoked the guy is doing his own thing.. But all the stuff I’ve seen for SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD thus far just haven’t sold it for me. Apparently I don’t know what I’m talking about.
Romero recently updated, via his Official Twitter, that the film got a standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festrival. Scope out the ‘tweet:’ Guess who got a standing O at the Venice International Film Festival?? ::SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD:: and it lasted a whole 5 minutes!!! SLB
Impressive. Needless to say I’m now very, very intrigued by SURVIVAL. Those festival people can be hard to please… and the flick got a whole 5 minutes out of them! Very interesting. Screen Daily confirms the film’s success, breaking the news that the film has already sold in six territories! Bear with me as I try and give you the details.
Worldwide sales, minus the US, was handled by Voltage Pictures. Optimum Releasing secured rights in the UK, Paradiso Entertainement in Benelux, Splended Film in Germany, Presidio in Japan, Gulf Film Group in the Middle East, Imagem Filmes in Brazil and M Pictures Entertainement in Thailand with negotiations in France and Italy currently going on and the rights still up for grabs in Spain and Australia. E1 Entertainment will distribute the flick in Canada with John Sloss’ Cinetic, which handled DIARY OF THE DEAD’s US sales, handling the sales for SURVIVAL in the US. Yikes.
Voltage Pictures VP of Sales and Acquisitions Nadine de Barros had the following to say: “The reaction has been very enthusiastic. Domestic sales will be handled after the official Toronto premiere.” That premiere happens to be the midnight showing today, September 12th.
Didn’t expect that… What about you guys? You surprised SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD has been met with such success? Stoked to see it now? Spit bullets below and let us know what you think of the situation!