Kevin Smith’s TUSK Heads to Berlin With XYZ Films

XYZ Films has partnered with Demarest Films and A24 on Kevin Smith’s epic new horror film, TUSK, coming aboard to handle all international sales rights.  The film, also written by Smith and born out of one of his immensely popular SModcasts, stars Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez and Michael Parks.

Demarest (A MOST WANTED MAN, MACHETE KILLS) financed and produced TUSK in partnership with New York-based distributor A24 (SPRING BREAKERS, THE BLING RING), who will release it wide in the third quarter of 2014.  XYZ will be introducing the project, currently in production, to international buyers at the European Film Market in February.

TUSK is a modern-day monster movie that follows a journalist named Wallace (Long) who finds the story of a lifetime in Mr. Howe (Parks), a worldwide adventurer with amazing tales and a curious penchant for walruses.

“It’s an honor to support the work of Kevin Smith, a filmmaker we’ve revered for years. His bold and uncompromising vision for TUSK is a game-changer and one that we know will yield a memorable film that will leave audiences breathless,” says XYZ Films.

Demarest’s Sam Englebardt commented: “XYZ Films has incredible taste, particularly in the world of horror, so we are thrilled that they will be our partner on this groundbreaking film from Kevin Smith.”

Tusk was produced by Sam Englebardt, William D. Johnson, and David Greathouse for Demarest Films and Shannon McIntosh for Smith’s SModcast Pictures banner. Jennifer Schwalbach is executive producer.

XYZ executive produced and handled international sales on the hit action film THE RAID: REDEMPTION, which was released by Sony Pictures Classics. They are also handling international sales on Sundance competition film LIFE AFTER BETH, starring Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, Anna Kendrick, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Matthew Gray Gubler, Cheryl Hines, and Paul Reiser.

XYZ Films produced and is handling world sales on THE RAID 2, from writer/director Gareth Huw Evans as well as KILLERS, which is co-directed by Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel (The Mo Brothers). Both films are world premiering at Sundance 2014. XYZ also executive produced horror film DEAD SNOW: RED VS. DEAD, which also has its world premiere at Sundance.