Mother Teresa Biopic, THE LETTERS, Honored With Rare Re-Release in Theaters

Rarely does the public witness a cinematic re-release of a Hollywood movie. To be granted such an opportunity, a film must qualify for a number of "special circumstances."

"The Letters" was predicted to reel in high box office numbers upon its release in December 2015. An epic biopic about Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, best known to the world as Mother Teresa, the film won multiple top awards in film festivals across the globe. This includes Best Picture and Audience Choice Award at the Sedona International Film Festival, and Best Director and Best Actress at the International Catholic Film Festival in Vatican City.

However, things took a turn when the film encountered what distributors would later call "unexpected circumstances and unusually bad timing." Two days before "The Letters" released in theaters nationwide, the San Bernardino terrorist attack took place. News outlets warned the public to stay away from facilities such as movie theaters resulting in dismal box office results for all films released that weekend.

Despite low box office results, "The Letters" earned impressive sales numbers in both international markets and the home entertainment market. The film also received high marks from the public on the popular streaming site, Netflix.

These results garnered the attention of Alan J. Elias, Chief Executive Officer of OnBuzz, who found the film worthy of re-release in the U.S. OnBuzz's unique distribution model is unlike any other in Hollywood, and the results speak for themselves. OnBuzz plans to re-release "The Letters" on September 4, 2018, to celebrate the second anniversary of Mother Teresa's canonization.

To avoid any similar effect on this re-release, social impact film company, OnBuzz, will utilize their unique Social Impact Strategy to market to the film's target audience churchgoers. OnBuzz will implement interactive kiosks in churches and mega-churches across the nation. The kiosks have proven to drive up social media shares, increasing the network of potential audience members which, in turn, drives up ticket sales. In addition, the company will tap into the same network of churches and churchgoers for the OnBuzz distributed film, Tortured for Christ, which became the most successful independent film in the nation for a one-day theatrical event during the week of its release.

Social Impact is at the heart of OnBuzz's unique strategy. A portion of ticket sales will support Mully Children's Family, Charles Mully's nonprofit that cares for orphaned and vulnerable children in communities throughout Kenya. Considered by many to be a modern-day Mother Teresa, Mully created his nonprofit out of his experience as an orphaned child. By connecting "The Letters" and "Mully," OnBuzz highlights Mother Teresa's life work and simultaneously raises awareness and donations for Mully's children's charity.

It is said that "it's not over 'til it's over" and with "The Letters," it seems that it is not over yet. Stay tuned for more "buzz" as OnBuzz prepares to release "The Letters" this September.

OnBuzz is an end-to-end film financing, production, distribution, and marketing firm focused on sustainable filmmaking.

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