ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA

Yellow Veil Pictures and Drafthouse Films announced today that they have co-acquired US rights to the documentary ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA, directed by Cathryne Czubek from Blue Finch Films. ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA was originally set to World Premiere at the canceled 2020 SxSW Film Festival, but ultimately made its debut the following year at DocNYC, where it took home the Grand Jury Prize in the U.S. Competition. The distributors are planning a theatrical release with an exclusive week-run with Alamo Drafthouse theaters starting July 4th before expanding to additional markets. The film will hit digital platforms on July 25th.

Set in the heart of Uganda, the documentary centers on two unlikely friends from opposite sides of the world: visionary filmmaker Isaac Nabwana and film nerd Alan Hofmanis, who unite over their shared love of Chuck Norris and gonzo 80’s action flicks. With sheer determination and an outrageous sense of humor, they team up to create their own explosive movies, catapulting Wakaliwood to international stardom and bringing laughter and joy to millions. Welcome to Wakaliwood, a world like no other, where you can definitely “expect the unexpectable.”

Czubek says of her filmmaking experience, “Who could resist the chance to tell the story of an ingenious community of creators making high-octane action comedies in the depths of Uganda? The sheer joy and unbridled enthusiasm of Isaac and Wakaliwood is contagious, and capturing their journey on film is an experience I will always cherish. I feel honored to tell this story and hope audiences feel as inspired and have as much fun watching our film as we did making it.”

“ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA not only tells the fascinating untold story of Issac Nabwana’s true passion for stories and spectacle, but it’s also a heartfelt story of friendship,” says Yellow Veil Pictures Co-Founder, Hugues Barbier. “It reminds us so much as to why we love films in the first place, and teaming up with Drafthouse Films to bring this gem to the public seemed like the natural thing to do. We can’t wait to see this with an audience cheering and laughing.”

Drafthouse Films CEO Nick Savva adds, “The whole Drafthouse Films team is magnetically drawn to stories that explore what it means to be in love with cinema. This film is no exception.”

Isaac Key

ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA was directed by Cathryne Czubek of Wonderview Studios. Czubek wrote the film with Amanda Hughes and was produced by Czubek, Gigi Dement, Hugo Perez, Matt Porwoll and Kyaligamba Ark Martin. The deal was negotiated by Yellow Veil Pictures Co-Founders Hugues Barbier, Justin Timms, and Joe Yanick, with Blue Finch’s Mike Chapman.

ABOUT YELLOW VEIL PICTURES
Formed in 2018 Yellow Veil Pictures is a New York City and Los Angeles-based film sales and distribution company focusing on boundary-pushing genre cinema. Yellow Veil Pictures have released titles including Gaspar Noé’s LUX ÆTERNA, Frida Kempff’s Sundance hit KNOCKING, and the Venice and TIFF selection THE LONG WALK from director Mattie Do.

The company’s sales slate includes such films as Tilman Singer’s debut feature LUZ, The Adams Family’s HELLBENDER, George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK, and Philip Gelatt & Morgan Galen King’s THE SPINE OF NIGHT.

Yellow Veil Pictures seeks to highlight emerging and established filmmakers who exist on the cusp of commercial and arthouse cinema.

ABOUT DRAFTHOUSE FILMS
Drafthouse Films is a curated brand of provocative, visionary and artfully unusual films from around the world. Releases include CHOP & STEELE, A LIFE ON THE FARM, NR. 10, MASKING THRESHOLD, BULLHEAD, THE ACT OF KILLING, BORGMAN, THE INVITATION, SPRING, CHEAP THRILLS, THE CONGRESS, and 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH. Learn more at drafthousefilms.com.

ABOUT BLUE FINCH FILMS
Blue Finch Films is a UK-based international sales and distribution company that specialize in bold, festival driven features. Their current slate includes the SXSW 2023 Narrative Competition winner RAGING GRACE, SXSW selected MONOLITH starring Lily Sullivan, and breakout horror THE OUTWATERS.