MOMENTUM PICTURES ACQUIRES DOMESTIC RIGHTS TO MATT SMUKLER’S ENSEMBLE DRAMEDY WILDFLOWER STARRING KIERNAN SHIPKA, JEAN SMART, JACKI WEAVER, BRAD GARRETT, REID SCOTT, ERIKA ALEXANDER, ALEXANDRA DADDARIO
Los Angeles, CA (Feb 14, 2023) – Momentum Pictures has acquired the domestic rights to award winning filmmaker Matt Smukler's directorial debut WILDFLOWER. The poignant and powerful film stars Kiernan Shipka ("Mad Men"), Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jean Smart ("Hacks"), Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver ("Yellowstone"), Dash Mihok ("Ray Donovan"), Charlie Plummer, Alexandra Daddario ("The White Lotus"), Brad Garrett ("Everyone Loves Raymond"), Reid Scott ("Veep"), Erika Alexander (Get Out, and introducing Samantha Hyde. WILDFLOWER was written by Jana Savage (Praise This, Homecoming) and directed by Matt Smukler, who directed and produced the acclaimed 2020 documentary of the same title.
Inspired by a true story, WILDFLOWER is a coming-of-age film that follows Bea Johnson from birth to graduation as she navigates life with two neurodivergent parents and an extended family who can't quite agree on the best way to help.
“We are thrilled to partner with Jana and Matt to bring this story filled with humor, heart, and an all-star ensemble to audiences nationwide,” said Ian Goggins, Momentum Pictures’ EVP Global Home Entertainment.
"What makes this story so beautifully touching to me is the way these seemingly incompatible people surrender to each other, their circumstances, and ultimately, to love," said Smukler. "My hope is that audiences will be joyfully reminded of their own favorite family anecdotes, and remember that no matter how hard it might be at times, we all must love our families for as long as we possibly can."
WILDFLOWER is a Limelight, eOne production, produced by Jamie Patricof, Katie McNeill (Hunting Lane), Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker (Limelight Pictures), Kyle Owens, Ethan Lazar, Austen Rydell, and Billie Lourd (Morning Moon). Jana Savage, Matt Smukler and Tyler Zacharia served as executive producers. Jillian Share and Jen Gorton executive produced for eOne.
WILDFLOWER premiered at TIFF in 2022 and will be released on March 17th. Sierra/Affinity is handling international sales of the film.
About Momentum Pictures, an Entertainment One Company
Momentum Pictures is focused on distributing multiplatform film, television and special interest content in the U.S. and around the world.
ABOUT MATT SMUKLER
With a driving interest in reaching past the obvious to highlight deeper connections and small details, filmmaker Matt Smukler (director) has made a name for himself with heartfelt films with a universal resonance. His penchant for building real, emotional stories brings audiences together, all the while captivating viewers with his charming, effortless sense of humor. His films are often championed for being authentically touching, due largely to subtle direction and naturalistic performances.
About Limelight:
Limelight, founded in 2018 by Chris Parker, Dylan Sellers, and Alex Dong, produced the Andy Samberg-led comedy, "Palm Springs" which had a record-breaking $22 million sale to Hulu and Neon after its Sundance premiere. The company has since produced Anna Kerrigan's "Cowboys" starring Jillian Bell, Steve Zahn, and Ann Dowd; Theodore Melfi’s comedy/drama "The Starling" starring Melissa McCarthy, Kevin Kline and Chris O’Dowd; the Naomi Watts-led thriller "The Desperate Hour" directed by Phillip Noyce; "Cuando Sea Joven", a Spanish language comedy produced alongside Eugenio Derbez; and Jeff Baena's "Spin Me Round" starring Alison Brie and Aubrey Plaza.
Limelight projects awaiting release include Paul Weitz' directed "Moving On" which stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin; "Aristotle and Dante" directed by Aitch Alberto; and "Providence" directed by Potsy Ponciroli and starring Lily James, Himesh Patel, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
In television, Limelight produced the Emmy-nominated Hulu limited series "Pam and Tommy" starring Lily James, Sebastian Stan, and Seth Rogen, and "Welcome to Chippendales" starring Kumail Nanjiani and Murray Bartlett.
About Morning Moon:
Morning Moon Productions is an independent production company that works across
film, television, and music platforms. Led by Kyle Owens, Austen Rydell, Ethan Lazar, and Billie Lourd, the company focuses on identifying compelling stories and talent. Morning Moon most recently developed and produced WILDFLOWER which premiered at TIFF 2022.