2016 Sundance Film Festival Predictions: Anna Rose Homer’s The Fits

Venice Film Festival Biennale College – Cinema sidebar is like a low-lying fruit tree that hasn’t yet been picked, and from the past two editions Sundance programmers have basketed Tim Sutton’s Memphis (2014) and Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia’s H. (2015). We’re thinking the fest might go three for three with The Fits. Anna Rose Homer fiction feature debut hasn’t yet be shown outside the Lido and it’s coming into 2016 with terrific critical buzz with THR calling it a “rough-diamond discovery” French institute Cahiers du cinéma giving the film major props. The filmmaker touched several facets of the film indie film biz over the years getting her feet wet as a camera assistant, with grip credits for Afterschool and Tiny Furniture and her most recent gigs were as a producer on Jody Lee Lipes’ Ballet 422 and still photographer on Matt Wolf’s Teenage. The Fits, which benefited from the Sundance Institute’s inaugural Editing Intensive Fellows, will certainly find a theatrical home and a spot in the 2016 release calendar. Check out the trailer.

Gist: Written by Anna Rose Holmer, Saela Davis & Lisa Kjerulff, this is a psychological portrait of 11-year-old Toni—a tomboy assimilating to a tight-knit dance team in Cincinnati’s West End. Enamored by the power and confidence of this strong community of girls, Toni eagerly absorbs routines, masters drills, and even pierces her own ears to fit in. When a mysterious outbreak of fainting spells plagues the team, Toni’s desire for acceptance is twisted.  

Production Co./Producers: Lisa Kjerulff (Americana) & Anna Rose Holmer

Prediction: NEXT section.

U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. TBD (domestic). TBD (international)

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