Neon has acquired worldwide rights to Clarissa, a modern reimagining of Mrs. Dalloway, led by an ensemble cast that includes Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, India Amarteifio, Ayo Edebiri, and Toheeb Jimoh.
Set over the course of a single evening in Lagos, Nigeria, Clarissa follows society woman Clarissa (Okonedo) as she prepares to host an intimate gathering at her home. What begins as a carefully curated party soon becomes a reckoning when long-unseen friends from her youth arrive, forcing the group to confront shared memories, unresolved love, buried desires, and the quiet grief of roads not taken.
The film was shot entirely on 35mm in Nigeria and directed by twin filmmakers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri, with Chuko Esiri also penning the screenplay. Neon will handle the U.S. theatrical release, while Neon International will oversee foreign sales.
Clarissa is produced by Chuko and Arie Esiri alongside Theresa Park for Per Capita Productions and Nicholas Weinstock for Invention Studios. Co-producers include Nina Gold and Thomas Bassett, with executive producers Sophie Okonedo, Dolly Omodolapo Kola-Balogun, Osahon Okunbo, and Jason Reif. Financing was provided entirely by Africa-based institutions Afreximbank Creative Africa Nexus and MBO Capital.
Neon’s acquisition of Clarissa comes as the studio continues a strong awards-season run, currently holding 18 Academy Award nominations—second most among motion picture studios—with films including Sentimental Value, The Secret Agent, Sirāt, and Arco. The deal was negotiated by Neon’s Director of Acquisitions, Development & Production, Kate Gondwe, with UTA Independent Film Group representing the filmmakers.