The coming-of-age drama If I Go Will They Miss Me, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, has been acquired by indie distributor Rich Spirit in a nearly $1 million deal. The agreement covers U.S. rights and select international territories, with a fall theatrical release planned. Directed by Walter Thompson-Hernandez, the film stars Bodhi Dell, J. Alphonse Nicholson and Danielle Brooks.
The film If I Go Will They Miss Me premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received strong reviews. Variety's chief film critic Peter Debruge described director Walter Thompson-Hernandez as a "talent-to-watch" and called the movie a "one-of-a-kind Sundance discovery." Based on Thompson-Hernandez's short film of the same name, the story centers on 12-year-old Lil Ant, played by Bodhi Dell, who grapples with connecting to his distant father, portrayed by J. Alphonse Nicholson, while experiencing mysterious visions.
Thompson-Hernandez, who wrote and directed the feature, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. "Premiering ‘If I Go Will They Miss Me’ at Sundance was such a dream, and I’m so grateful to partner with Rich Spirit for the next chapter," he said in a statement. "This film was a labor of love from start to finish; I’m beyond proud of our team and so excited for audiences to experience this story in theaters."
The high six-figure deal, approaching $1 million, was negotiated by Eugene Pikulin at Bruns Brennan Berry Pikulin & Jacobs LLP and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers and Rich Spirit. Producers include Josh Peters, Saba Zerehi and Ben Stillman, with executive producers such as Robina Riccitiello, Steve Beckman, Jennifer J. Pritzker and others, including stars Brooks and Nicholson. Musician Jon Batiste contributed by recording a cover of "This Bitter Earth" and serving as an executive producer.
Rich Spirit, led by James Shani, gained attention with its release of The Apprentice, a biopic about Donald Trump that faced distribution challenges despite positive reviews. The company's follow-up was the documentary BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions, presented as an art project exploring art, journalism, entrepreneurship and cultural critique.
