Ahead of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Mistress Dispeller, Elizabeth Lo’s (Stray) highly anticipated sophomore documentary, has been signed to The Party Film Sales.
The Paris-based company has acquired international distribution rights to the film and released a clip. AC Independent and Submarine Entertainment are handling North American distribution.
“Mistress Dispeller” will be performed in the Horizons section of Venice on September 2nd before its North American premiere in Toronto.
Mistress Dispeller is set in China, where a new industry has emerged dedicated to helping couples maintain their marriages despite infidelity. Wang Zhenxi is part of this growing industry, a Mistress Dispeller hired to maintain marital bonds – and end affairs – by any means necessary.
The documentary follows a real-life, developing case of infidelity as teacher Wang tries to bring a couple back from the brink of crisis. Their story includes the perspectives of the husband, wife and lover to explore romantic relationships in contemporary China.
“Elizabeth Lo’s ‘Mistress Dispeller’ is a breathtaking film that captivates us from beginning to end,” said
Estelle De Araujo and Samuel Blanc, co-sales managers at Party Film Sales.
“Elizabeth’s camera seamlessly inserts herself into the most intimate moments in the lives of her protagonists. The film deals with love, relationships and family, but also explores the political dimensions of our interactions and societal expectations,” they added.
Produced by Marcona Media and After Argos Films, Mistress Dispeller is presented by Anonymous Content and Impact Partners in association with CMP. It was developed in collaboration with The Concordia Studio Fellowship.
Producers are Emma D. Miller and Lo and Maggie Li. The film was edited by Charlotte Munch Bengtsen. Executive producers are Jenny Raskin, Kelsey Koenig, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, David Levine, Dawn Olmstead, Rahdi Taylor, Davis Guggenheim, Steve Cohen and Paula Froehle. Co-executive producers are Lauren Haber and Marni EJ Grossman.
Party Film Sales’ Venice program also includes Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s “Aicha,” which will have its world premiere at Horizons, Rúnar Rúnarsson’s short film “O” in the Short Film Competition, and the restoration of Frederick Wiseman’s “Model” at Venice Classics.
The French distribution company has previously worked on documentaries such as “Four Daughters” by Kaouther Ben Hania, which received an Oscar nomination.
Lo is best known for her critically acclaimed documentary “Stray,” released in 2020, about a stray dog on the streets of Istanbul.
