Film Movement Takes U.S. Rights For Toronto Hip-Hop Scene SXSW Title ‘Boxcutter’
EXCLUSIVE: Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights for Canadian filmmaker Reza Dahya’s Toronto-set drama Boxcutter which made its international premiere at SXSW earlier this year.
Ashton James (Revenge of the Black Best Friend, Youngblood) stars as Rome, an aspiring rapper whose laptop is stolen.
The theft sends him on an odyssey across the gentrifying streets of Toronto to recover his music in time for a potentially life-changing meeting with a Grammy winner.
Speaking about the film in the Deadline Studio in SXSW, Dahya described the movie as a “love letter to Toronto and Toronto hip hop”.
James is joined in the cast by Zoe Lewis (Morningside) and Viphusan Vani (The Cold Seller).
The movie marks a feature directorial debut for writer Chris Cromie and Dahya, who is known at home for his work as host and producer of OTA Live on FLOW 93.5 FM in Toronto.
Dahya, who is an alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre’s Directors’ Lab, also produced alongside Soko Negash. Tania Sarra, Darby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascunan and Anupa Mistry executive produced.
“From its underdog story to its kinetic cinematography, Boxcutter is both a love letter to Toronto, its vibrant hip-hop scene and aspiring artists everywhere,” said Film Movement President Michael Rosenberg.
“With casting perfection and an assured script, Reza’s drama finds inspiration and emotional truths in every shot.”
Film Movement will release the film theatrically later this year before launching it on digital platforms.
