Magnolia Pictures has acquired the North American rights to “Skate Kitchen,” director Crystal Moselle’s follow-up to the 2015 Sundance U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize-winning “The Wolfpack.”
“Skate Kitchen,” which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, stars Jaden Smith, Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell and Kabrina Adams.
Magnolia Pictures plans a theatrical release this summer.
In “Skate Kitchen,” Moran plays Kurt, the most brash outspoken member of a new skate crew formed by Camille (Vinberg), a shy but passionate skateboarder who defies her mother’s skating ban and gets kicked out of her home, forcing her and her pals to maneuver around New York’s skating world while dealing with the all-male crews who try to intimidate them.
“Crystal Moselle has proven in impressive style that ‘The Wolfpack’ was no fluke,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Everything about ‘Skate Kitchen’ is so fresh and compelling – the cast, the skateboarding and the way she makes us look at New York City with new eyes.”
“After a successful and adventurous release of ‘The Wolfpack,’ I am incredibly excited to work with Magnolia on the release of ‘Skate Kitchen,” added Moselle.”It’s a film that I know they completely get and I can’t wait to collaborate again.”
“Skate Kitchen” was written by Moselle, Aslihan Unaldi and Jen Silverman. The film is produced by Lizzie Nastro, Izabella Tzenkova, Julia Nottingham, Crystal Moselle, Matthew Perniciaro, Michael Sherman, and Rodrigo Teixeira, as well A Bow and Arrow Entertainment, RT Features in association with Pulse Films and Kotva Films. Executive producers are Lourenco Sant’Anna, Sophie Mas and Thomas Benski from Pulse Films. Alliah Sophia Mourad co-produced.
The deal was negotiated by Magnolia co-EVP Dori Begley and Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, with UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers. 30West arranged the partnership between Magnolia and the financier.