EXCLUSIVE: Sunrise Films has set a May 9 theatrical release for the Freddy Macdonald thriller Sew Torn starring Eve Connolly, John Lynch and Calum Worthy. The movie made its world premiere at SXSW last year. A New York City and Los Angeles launch is planned, followed by a nationwide release.
In Sew Torn, Barbara Duggen, “The Mobile Seamstress,” is struggling to keep her fabric shop alive. After a botched sewing appointment sets her on a quest to replace her client’s lost button, she unexpectedly stumbles upon a drug deal gone bad. Faced with two downed motorcyclists, guns, and a briefcase, Barbara is completely torn. She is forced to pick between three choices: commit the perfect crime, call the police, or drive away. The narrative presents the repercussions of all three decisions, and the deadly confrontations that result from each as she gets entangled with the case’s owner. Using thread to free herself, Barbara stops at nothing to save her store.
Macdonald also co-wrote. K Callan (Knives Out) and Caroline Goodall (Schindler’s List) also star.
Deadline’s Damon Wise praised the film, saying “Freddy Macdonald’s Strange, Striking Neo-Noir Is A Great Discovery,” calling it “a neo-noir in the early Coens tradition.”
Macdonald is a Student Academy Award winner, and the youngest Directing Fellow ever accepted to the AFI Conservatory. His AFI admission film, Sew Torn (the short film of the same name), was executive produced by Peter Spears (Nomadland, Call Me By Your Name) and was acquired by Searchlight Pictures. It also received a theatrical release nationwide playing in front of Ready Or Not. His AFI thesis film, Shedding Angels, won a Student Academy Award and was shortlisted for a student BAFTA.
“I’m beyond excited to see Sew Torn headed to theaters with the support of Sunrise Films. Their belief in this project means the world to me. It’s a dream come true to watch the feature take the same theatrical path as the short film that inspired it,” Macdonald tells Deadline.
Sunrise Films’ Andrew Nerger adds, “We’re delighted to bring Sew Torn to theaters on May 9. It’s a bold, inventive film and we can’t wait for viewers to experience its wonderfully crafty method of storytelling.”
Producers on the film included Macdonald, Barry Navidi, Sebastian Klinger, Diamantis Zavitsanos and Socrates Zavitsanos. Macdonald is represented by UTA’s Rich Klubeck, Amanda Hymson and Dante DeSario.
Sunrise Films acquired the movie for North America from UTA on behalf of the filmmakers. Sister label Vertigo Releasing previously acquired UK & Ireland rights from the film’s international sales agent The Playmaker Munich.
Vertigo Releasing