Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to Spike Lee's DA SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS starring Zaraah Abrahams and Stephen Tyrone Williams. The film, which is a reinterpretation of Bill Gunn's 1973 cult horror classic "Ganja & Hess," previously made its debut earlier this year at the American Black Film Festival after a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund the production. Gravitas will release the film theatrically and on video on demand on February 13, 2015.
"Making DA SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS is one of my most gratifying experiences in my body of work," said Spike Lee. "The support and love we got raising the money through Kickstarter is a true blessing. I thank everyone who brought this New Spike Lee Joint to life."
"We are thrilled to collaborate with Spike Lee to release DA SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS in theatres and on demand across North America," said Nolan Gallagher, Gravitas Ventures' Founder and CEO. "The performances from emerging talents Zaraah Abrahams and Stephen Tyrone infuse what will be one of the most talked about films from Spike's storied career."
A Spike Lee Joint, DA SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS is a new kind of love story, one that centers on an addiction to blood that once doomed a long forgotten ancient African tribe. When Dr. Hess Green (Stephen Tyrone Williams) is introduced to a mysteriously cursed artifact by an art curator, Lafayette Hightower (Elvis Nolasco), he is uncontrollably drawn into a newfound thirst for blood that overwhelms his soul. He however is not a vampire. Lafayette quickly succumbs to the ravenous nature of the infliction but leaves Hess a transformed man. Soon Lafayette's wife, Ganja Hightower (Zaraah Abrahams), comes looking for her husband and becomes involved in a dangerous romance with Hess that questions the very nature of love, addiction, sex, and status in our seemingly sophisticated society. A reinterpretation of Bill Gunn's horror cult film "Ganja & Hess", which played as a Critics' Choice at the 1973 Cannes Film Festival, Spike Lee's stylized thriller features an Original Score by Bruce Hornsby.
The deal was brokered by Nolan Gallagher at Gravitas with ICM Partners on behalf of 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks.
A Spike Lee Joint, DA SWEET BLOOD OF JESUS is directed by Spike Lee, written by Bill Gunn and Spike Lee, produced by Chiz Schultz (who also produced "Ganja & Hess") and Spike Lee, co-produced by Jason Sokoloff with music by Bruce Hornsby, cinematography by Daniel Patterson, costume design by Ruth E. Carter, production design by Kay Lee, and editing by Randy Wilkins. The film stars Zaraah Abrahams, Stephen Tyrone Williams, Rami Malek, and Elvis Nolasco. The production company is 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks. The original songs soundtrack is from Epic Records.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.facebook.com/DaSweetBloodofJesus
ABOUT GRAVITAS VENTURES
Gravitas Ventures is a leading distributor of independent cinema. Founded in 2006, Gravitas is an all rights distributor that connects independent filmmakers and producers with leading distribution partners across the globe. Working with more than 500 content partners, Gravitas Ventures has distributed thousands of films across all platforms. Some of their recent theatrical releases include Sundance smash
PING PONG SUMMER with Susan Sarandon,
THE LONGEST WEEK starring Jason Bateman and Olivia Wilde, and FELONY, starring Joel Edgerton and Tom Wilkinson. For more information, please check out
www.gravitasventures.com and @GravitasVOD.
ABOUT 40 ACRES AND A MULE FILMWORKS
40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks is the production company of Spike Lee. Founded in 1986 in his childhood neighborhood of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, New York, it has produced feature films, documentaries, commercials, music videos and short films. 40 Acres has been a training ground for young
Unknown black talent, both in front of and behind the camera, who have
GONE on to make their mark in Hollywood today.
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