Peter Sarsgaard and Jessica Chastain in “Memory”
Yves Cape
Just when it seemed like the dance card was full for this season’s Oscar race, the release date for a highly acclaimed film that wasn’t expected to be released until 2024 has been set for December 2023.
has learned that the North American distribution rights of Michel Franco‘s Memory, in which plays the main role Peter Sarsgaard and Oscar winner Jessica Chastainhave been acquired by Ketchup Entertainment, who will release it shortly before the end of the year.
Memory tells the story of Sylvia (Chastain), a social worker who lives a simple and structured life until Saul (Sarsgaard) follows her home from her high school reunion. Their surprising encounter touches both of them deeply and opens the door to memories, challenges and revelations that will leave a lasting impression.
The film’s makers and the new distributor hope and believe that Academy members will respond to Sarsgaard’s performance as enthusiastically as attendees did at the Venice International Film Festival last month, where the film’s world premiere was greeted with an eight-minute standing ovation. The jury awarded Sarsgaard the Volpi Cup for Best Actor.
This awards season, however, Sarsgaard – who has never been nominated for an Oscar despite having standout performances in films such as Shattered Glass (2003), Kinsey (2004), Jarhead (2005), An Education (2009) and The Lost Daughter (2021). ) – compete as a supporting actor In the “Leading Actress” category will be Chastain, a long-running favorite at the awards ceremony, who won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2021 for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”.
In addition to Sarsgaard and Chastain, the Emmy winner also stars in the film Merritt WeverOutbreak in eighth grade Elsie Fisher, Brooke Timber, Jessica Harper and The Good Wife alum Josh Charles.
The hoped-for march from Memory to Dolby continues a little further down Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday evening. at the TCL Chinese Theaters when the film screens as part of AFI FEST, starring Franco and, thanks to an interim SAG agreement, Sarsgaard.
“Memory offers a poignant journey into the depths of human emotion, backed by fantastic performances,” says CEO of Ketchup Entertainment Gareth West said in a statement. “We are excited to work with such passionate filmmakers to bring this film to audiences across the United States.”
Franco added: “Remembrance is a passionate endeavor – from Jessica and Peter, our producers and our entire filmmaking team. Thanks to the SAG interim agreement, we traveled together to Venice and Toronto to present the film. We have chosen an independent path for distribution in the US – we know it has made a difference for people at Ketchup, and we are approaching this adventure together with independence and passion.”
Ketchup Entertainment launched its domestic distribution label in 2012 and quickly established itself as an industry innovator in both creative theatrical release and film financing of a diverse range of titles. Using targeted acquisition and marketing resources as well as direct theatrical and spin-off productions, Ketchup actively acquires and distributes films in all media. As a boutique label, Ketchup works closely with filmmakers and producers to develop special, targeted marketing campaigns.
“Memory” was produced by Teorema (formerly Lucia Films, Franco’s production company). Eréndira Núñez Larios) in collaboration with High Frequency Entertainment (his other current credits include: Azazel Jacobs“Toronto is distinguished by its three daughters and Charlie McDowellis the upcoming “The Summer Book” starring Glenn Close) and in collaboration with Screen Capital / Screen One, MUBI and Case Study Films.
Producers are Franco, Larios, Alex Orlovsky And Duncan Montgomery. Executive producers are Moises Chiver And Paula Perez Manzanedo; for high frequency, Jack Selby; for Screen One, Joyce Zylberberg (Founder of Screen Capital and former Chilean Film Commissioner), Tatiana Emden (former Executive Secretary of the Chilean National Film Fund), Ralph Haiek And Patricio Rabuffetti; for MUBI, Jason Ropell And Efe Cakarel; and for The Match Factory, Michael Weber.
Bart Walker And Jay Cohen at Gersh negotiated the deal with West.